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50 Cents 



JTHORS’ PUBLISHING ASSOCI&TIOH, 

114 FIFTH AVENUE, 

NEW YOEK. 



PROPERTY 

OF 

DON GILBAR 





Some twenty yards distant, reclining on a heap of skins, was a woman ; her contour simply divine .” — Page 80. 








X-: 




v.v.J!r 




PROPERTY ^ 

OK 


DON GILBAR 


/ 

./ 

BY 

HENRI BLOCK 

»/ 

AUTHOR OF 

“BLAYLOCK AND BLYNX, PROMOTERS,” A NOVEL: 
“ DOWN IN TENNESSEE ” ; 

“ MERCED,” 

A TALE OE THE SAN JAOQUIN. 


NEW YORK 

AUTHORS’ PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION 

1 14 Fifth Avenue 






Copyright, 1896, 


r.Y 

HENRI BLOCK 



V 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


CHAPTER I. 

The weather had been threatening for several days. 
The moaning and sighing of the wind, the gathering of 
clouds — the elements in every way denoted, not so much 
a storm of an hour, as stormy weather for some time. 

It was in the early part of December, and there had 
been very little stormy weather, as is usual in Central 
Iowa at this time of the year ; but now the old farmers 
and their housewives felt that winter was coming and 
predicted that it would be of unusual severity. The husks 
had been thick on the corn, muskrats were plentiful in the 
streams and had been laying in abundant stores, as for a 
long winter ; so that it had been a matter of surprise that 
there was no snow up to this time. 

It was only a little after noon when old Squire Lykin, 
standing before the big sheet iron stove in his comfortable 
general room, was taking a final puff at his short clay 
pipe. The old Squire, although very well-to-do, never 
indulged in a more expensive luxury, as to pipes, than a 
nickel brown stone front with a reed stem ; but said non- 
expensive luxury had long been a part of the Squire’s 
well-known physiognomy in and about Pleasantville. 

Squire Lykin had been a very handsome man in his 

5 


6 


PROPERTY OF DON GILPAR. 


day and was still everything tliat the most critical eye 
could wish — a broad-shouldered, well-developed, typical 
stock-farmer. His face at the same time denoted the 
most genial hospitality and good will, while there was 
something about the mouth that so firmly grasped his 
short pipe, and his big black eyes, made darker by con- 
trast with his full gray beard and hair, that commanded 
at once a feeling of affection and sympathy and denoted 
some heavy sorrow which he had plainly battled with for 
years, not without hope ; but a hope that those who knew 
him most intimately would say was fast dying out. 

The Squire’s great-coat, fur gloves and cap and Arctic 
shoes were all lying on the settee, and as he knocked the 
ashes out of his pipe, a boy of apparently fifteen or six- 
teen years of age came bustling into the room, stamping 
his feet and with the usual noise and confusion of a boy 
of his age, full of exuberant life and overflowing with 
healthy spirits. 

Shut the door,” said the Squire, in a voice that seemed 
especially low and sad in contrast to the storm that had 
begun and the bustle that always attended the presence 
of his precocious son. 

‘‘ Better get out the sleigh, hadn’t I, Squire ? ” 

Jim always addressed his father as “ Squire,” not from 
any lack of respect, for “ a better boy at heart never 
lived ; but he is devilish,” as old Mother Jenkins explained 
to the new parson, in giving him the idiosyncrasies of his 
parishioners. “ It has been snowing for an hour and will 
not stop this night.” 

“ Yes, Jim, hitch up to the sleigh ; but you had better 
not put the colt in, for I think I will go right on up to 
Stephen’s. He was telling me last Sunday that that new 
hand was no good, and he had let him go. This is going 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


7 


to be a heavy snow and Stephen won’t have enough help 
with the cattle, so I will take the boys right on up there to- 
night and give that friend of Jack’s a fitting introduction 
into the Western life, with which, Jack writes, his father 
is so anxious to have him acquainted. Go tell mother 
to get me a piece ready, and you have the team out to the 
sleigh, for I want to start early so as to stop and get a 
few things to take up to Stephen. Tell mother I can’t 
wait for supper, so just get me a little something that is 
handy and I will make out. But here, hold on,” for this 
rapid boy was well out into the hall before his father had 
fully finished his instructions. ‘‘ Now mind, don’t hitch 
up the colt, for I want a steady team to-night ; it’s going 
to be too cold and rough to break in any of your fancy 
colts for you.” 

As the farmer finished speaking, young Jim darted out 
of the room, calling at the top of his voice : 

“ Ma, Katie, Aunt Sally, some of you, what is the matter 
with you all ? Are you sleeping ? ” 

Several doors opened, and several voices exclaimed : 

“ Jim, what is the matter } Are you hurt ? Is anybody 
sick ? ” 

It seemed they could never get used to the noisy boy. 
And then, as they all came to the head of the stairs and 
saw the rosy-cheeked lad with no especial terror depicted 
on his face, some scolded, some turned back in apparent 
disgust at what seemed to them a very false alarm, and 
with possibly a shade of shame that they could never 
understand Jim, and that his ringing voice should always 
be able to startle them. 

What is it, Jimmie ?” his mother said. “Why can’t 
you learn to be more quiet ? ” 

“ The Squire wants his piece right away ; says he can’t 


8 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


wait for supper, and I have got to get the team out. Now 
hurry, Ma ; don’t be so slow. He is going to go up to 
Steve’s, so if you want to send anytjiing along, get it ready 
and don’t keep us waiting.” 

During all of which Jim’s countenance expressed nothing 
unusual, only being lit up with its usual animation. When- 
ever he had the smallest commission imaginable to exe- 
cute, it was always acted upon as if requiring the greatest 
dispatch. 

Giving his mother a big hug and a kiss, he once more 
rushed out into the storm, and there was no doubt but that 
his duties in getting his father started on his journey 
would be promptly performed at least ; but whether the 
Squire’s instructions would be explicitly carried out was 
a matter of great doubt, as this young man was very much 
impressed with the idea of his own judgment being supe- 
rior to that of the Squire’s in the details of everyday life. 
As for general information, science, and art, or history, 
and all such ‘Hoolishness ” as Jim expressed it — he didn’t 
think he knew much about such things; but when it came 
to running the farm, it was a matter of surprise to the 
whole community how often Jim had his way and how 
often Jim’s way turned out to be the best way. 

‘‘ Now, I don’t see no sense in the Squire’s not wanting 
to drive the colt ; it has been standing in the stable for 
two weeks and is so full of the ‘ Old Nick ’ that it is as 
much as a man’s life is worth to go near its heels.” 

Jim referred more especially to himself, in speaking of 
this danger from the colt’s heels. 

“ ddie colt will drive just as steady as old Billy, and he 
was out in the storms long before I was born ; so it is 
time he was taking life a little easier. That’s the way 
with the Squire : he never wants to give up any of his old 


PROPEkTY OF DON GJLBAP. 


9 


things and never wants to drive anything but Billy and 
Moss. I suppose he means well enough, but he doesn’t give 
the matter thought, as I do. It’s a pity about the Squire. 
What would he do if anything should happen to me ? 
Well, the only thing is, I must think for him, so I will 
just hitch up Moss and the colt and give old Billy a rest.” 

Almost before Jim had thought this all out in such a 
satisfactory manner to himself, he had the sleigh out in 
the yard and by the aid of one or two of the farm-hands, 
the team was hitched to it. 

Mike, a broad-shouldered Irishman, had the colt by its 
head, and Jim was kicking the snow, which had become 
quite deep by now^, from his boots, preparatory to jump- 
ing in the sleigh and driving to the house for the Squire. 

In a moment he was well seated, had the reins firmly 
in his hands and his commanding, though boyish, voice 
sang out : 

Let him go, Mike, and get out of the way.” 

As Mike said afterwards : “ Young Jim ought to have 
told me to get out of the way first and then let go ; ” for 
the moment the restless and high-spirited animal felt the 
tightening of the rein upon his bit, he bounded in the air, 
forging ahead of the more sedate Moss, although she was 
a spirited horse herself, and Mike was thrown head over 
heels along the side of the yard, almost disappearing in a 
small pile of snow that the wind, eddying around the barn, 
had drifted there. 

But Jim was no mean horseman and the frantic 
endeavors of Ben — for so Jim had named his famous colt 
— to run only caused a more settled look of confidence 
and a smile to twinkle in his eyes, while he soothingly 
called out. 

“ Whoa, there ; be still, baby,” at the same time touch- 


Id PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

ing Moss’s slick sides with the whip that the team might 
take the bit together, thus enabling him to guide them 
safely and drive up to the door with a flourish; for Jim 
was very fearless and at the same time proud of his horse- 
manship. 

“ Hallo, the house there ! Whoa, Ben. Hallo, Ma ; 
tell the Squire I am ready. 

“ Be still, I tell you ” — this to the restive colt. 

“ Hallo, Ma, I knew you would not have him ready. 
By George, this is a rough night ; I would drive up to 
Steve’s myself, if there was anybody to leave at home to 
attend to things, and keep the Squire in a night like this. 
Whoa, sir, it is blamed funny I can’t teach this colt to 
stand still a minute ; he’d be just the same if the ther- 
mometer was a hundred in the shade. Whoa, 1 tell you. 
Well, take that, will you ? ” — hitting the colt a sharp cut 
with his lash. “ I’ll give you some excuse for moving 
about, if you won’t stand still.” 

“ Here comes the Squire at last. Whoa, boy ! Whoa, sir ! 
I never did see such a fool as that blamed colt is ; ” and 
as the Squire came towards the sleigh, Jim bounded out 
and was at the colt’s head not a minute too soon. 

Assuming a very matter-of-fact expression, he accosted 
the Squire with : 

“ My sakes ! but this is a hard night to be out driving ; 
I hope you and the boys won’t’get lost crossing the Lam- 
bert prairies.” 

The blinding snow, which was falling faster as the 
darkness approached, and the rising wind, which drove in 
fitful gusts, prevented the Squire at first from noticing the 
team his young hopeful had provided for the long, severe 
drive that was before him ; but a nearer approach and 
Ben’s restlessness soon caught Squire Lykin’s attention. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 1 1 

“ Jim, I would rather you had done as I asked you,^ 
was all he said as he muffled himself in the robes ; and 
with confident hands, born of long experience, he took up 
the reins saying : 

I am ready, Jimmie ; I depend on you seeing to the 
stock and attending to mother’s wants until I get back.” 

The colt, no doubt owing to Jim’s soothing influence, 
moved off comparatively quiet, and a journey that was to 
have a life-long influence over the lives of more than one 
was begun. 

‘‘ Now this breaks me all up,” said Jim, as he trudged 
back through the snow. “ The Squire is an awful funny 
man. As long as I have lived with him, I can’t make 
him out somehow. If he had given me a regular set-to 
about putting Ben in I would have felt a good deal better ; 
if he would only give me a good scolding, or even a lick- 
ing, when I don’t do as he tells me, I think it would 
do me good. I wish I had hitched up old Billy, because 
Ben will pull on the bit every step of the way, and no 
man can find the road across the prairie to-night, while 
Billy would not go a foot out of the way if the snow 
was up to his belly. I don’t know as much as 1 think 
I do, and 1 have no patience with the Squire for put- 
ting up with me as he does. Well, it’s done now, and 
I know the Squire will get through somehow all right ; 
It won’t be the first time he has gotten out of scrapes 
I have led him into ; but you can bet I am going to take 
to doing as he tells me, if I know' he is in the wrong : 
he will be right in the end.” 

All of which, although seemingly inconsistent from Jim’s 
way of expressing it, only proves Squire Lykiivs good 
judgment and thorough knowdedge of the best way to 
manage his boy. 


12 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


By this time Jim had reached the barn, and was busy- 
ing himself with the chores of the night, the matter having 
passed out of his mind for the time being. 

As soon as the Squire had his team straightened out in 
the road, he speeded them along as rapidly as the fast- 
falling snow would permit. It was growing much colder 
all the time, and although the clouds were heavy, it was 
hardly likely that the snow could continue in a much lower 
temperature. 

“ It is odd that it keeps snowing so fast,*’ soliloquized 
Squire Lykin, “while it is so cold. I thought we were 
going to have a deep one this time, but it will not keep on 
more than an hour or so, cold as it is.” 

This was no pleasure drive by any means. The wind 
had risen to an unusual velocity and the dry snow was 
beginning to drift, leaving the road bare in places, while 
further along it was piled abreast the team ; and, hardy 
Westerner though he was, the Squire bowed his head to 
the storm and sought, by bending forward and turning 
himself from side to side, to seek shelter as it were from 
the elements. 

“ This will be a hard night for those city chaps. It 
seems to me I never was in a worse storm. I almost wish 
I had planned differently and sent Jimmie and a couple 
of hands to help Steve. That Jim is a host himself, and 
Jack never was much good on the farm. He is big enough 
and strong and willing, but I guess he was made for some- 
thing different from shoveling corn and loading hay ; and 
now after his two years of luxurious indolence, I call it, 
it really is too hard to expect the boy to do any real work, 
especially in weather like this. Steady, there, Ben. My ! 
how the snow is drifting.” 

“ He says, though, in all his letters, that he wants to 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


13 

feed out one lot of cattle before he settles down to his 
profession; that he is just aching for some hard, steady 
work — work that will get him up early in the morning and 
make him tired enough to sleep when night comes. 

“ There is something the matter with that boy : his 
letters for the last six months have worried me. He can't 
have been doing wrong, and there is not a particle of 
deceit in him; still I know something is amiss with the 
lad. I wonder if he has fallen in love with some of those 
city girls and the little fools don^t know how to appreciate 
a man like Jack. If he had a pretty face and dandified 
ways it would come nearer pleasing them ; but all I have 
got to say is, it will be a mighty fortunate little woman 
that wins Jack for a husband. It’s always the way with 
these brainy men, — they must go and fall in love with 
some silly girl. 

“ But I guess I am judging Jack too hastily ; he has his 
profession too much at heart. It was born and bred in 
the bone with Jack, and can’t be turned aside lightly ; 
funny, though, that he should want to come home and go 
to work on the old farm in midwinter, when he seemed to 
be doing so well, leading such a gay life and having so 
many honors heaped upon him. 

“ Maybe the boy is in debt ; he has cost me a good farm 
already, but I never begrudged him anything he asked 
for, nor refused or delayed sending him money as soon as 
he wrote for it ; so it can’t be that. Well, we will soon 
see, soon see ; the boy will have a hearty welcome home 
and work enough, if he wants work ; there is always 
plenty of that where there is stock about. 

‘‘ Heigh-ho ! here we are at the bridge. I must have 
driven a little fast, but the horses will get a rest before 
we start on the real trip for the night.” 


14 


PROPERTY OP DON G/LBAR. 


The Squire had driven the six miles from his corner to 
the bridge, on the outskirts of Pleasantville, in a little 
more than an hour, which was very good time over such 
a road and in such weather, even for the blooded team 
behind which he was sitting. 

Driving across the bridge, the Squire jogged his horses 
through the main street of the town until, reaching the 
post-office, he turned into a shed under which were 
several sleighs, two or three saddle-horses and a couple 
of men who at once took charge of the Squire’s turn-out, 
hitched the team and, after rubbing the frozen snow from 
their fetlocks with some dry straw, covered the horses with 
the blankets and robes from the sleigh. 

Meanwhile, the Squire, more benumbed with cold than 
he had imagined, stumbled out of his sleigh, and stamping 
his feet and striking his hands about his body to induce 
some circulation and warmth into these numb extremities, 
trotted into the post-office, and after getting his mail and 
ordering a few articles into his sleigh from an adjacent 
store, walked a block or two to the Pleasantville House, 
the principal hotel in the thriving little city, where he 
found a little knot of friends and acquaintances and 
declined to drink at the bar, explaining that he didn’t 
believe in drinking when he had a thirty-mile drive to 
make, with the thermometer getting down about zero. 

“ You are not going up to Stephen’s this night, are you. 
Squire ? ” queried a dozen voices at once. 

“ Yes,” said the old man with a smile, breaking the 
now rapidly melting icicles from his beard ; that’s noth- 
ing for a man, especially when he has a good team.” 

“ Well, I am a man,” said George Barrows, a big strap- 
ping fellow of some thirty years, a little flushed with drink, 
^nd coming from the piercing weather into the heated 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


IS 

bar-room, “ and I wouldn’t drive to Stephen’s farm to- 
night behind the best team in S County, not for the 

team and farm in the bargain.” 

So the Squire discussed the advisability of making such 
a perilous drive, and none could better appreciate the 
danger and suffering attending it than these hardy farmers. 
They then passed on to the merits of the Squire’s horses, 
his cattle and farms, the weather, past, present, and future. 
It was especially gratifying to hear the complimentary 
remarks and see the pleased looks of his associates upon 
learning that Jack was expected on the train that night, 
for Jack had always been a great favorite. 

Throwing off his fur trappings, upon learning that No. 
4 was late owing to the storm and might be an hour or 
two behind time, the Squire settled down to wait patiently, 
which his even disposition enabled him to do. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


1 6 


CHAPTER 11 . 

On the 4th day of December, 18— there appeared 
in the society columns of one of the leading New York 
papers the following : 

“ Mr. and Mrs. Gilbar last night gave a large dinner at their pala- 
tial home on Fifth Avenue, the occasion being the bidding adieu for a 
time to society of their son, Mr. Don Gilbar, and his friend, young Dr. 
Lykin, who start West to-night for Dr. Lykin's old home in Central 
Io7va. It goes without sayhig that the affair was a great success, both 
gastronofuically and intellectually, there being a constant Jloiv of wine, 
7vit, and repartee. The guests were permitted to look over what is one 
of the finest houses in the city, which was beautifully decorated with 
rare exotic plants and flowers. Mrs. Gilbar looked exceptionally 
handsome in cream silk and lace ; Miss Gilbar naive and fetching in 
peach silk ; Mrs. Penn- Decker in white silk and point lace ; Mrs. F. 
Fustice in black and gold lace ; Mrs. Stevens in blue crepe : Miss 
Warmsley in an imported gown of white and gold. Music luas dis 

coursed throughout the evening by G V Orchestra, one of the finest 

in the city, and many tripped the light fantastic toe and indulged in 
the mazy waltz in the large and magnificent ball-room. It was evi- 
dent to all that young Don and his fi'iend. Hr. Lykin, 7 vere the fa 7 >or- 
ites with the gentler sex ; and it is due these young men to say that 
they impartially lozuei'ed their lances, as Knights of the Terpsichorean 
A rt. A mong the other guests ivere ” 

And then followed a list of the many that were present 
during the evening, the article closing with : 

Dr. Lykin has made a remarkable record for so young a man, and 
%ve predict for him a bright future I' 


On the morning upon which this article appeared, Don 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


17 


Gilbar and Jack Lykin, after a light breakfast of a chop, 
egg and toast, were comfortably ensconced in a couple of 
leather easy-chairs, with feet cocked upon the mantel, 
habilitated in negligee shirts, smoking jackets, slippers, 
Scotch plaid and narrow black stripe on light gray 
trousers, respectively. While they would hardly be recog- 
nized as the gallants so faultlessly attired the evening 
before, still the society man of the day was undoubtedly 
stamped upon their countenances and careless, graceful 
pose. 

Don had the deserved reputation of being one of the 
handsomest men in a city noted for its handsome men ; 
a little above the average height and weight, dark hair 
and eyes, a ravishing mustache, close-cropped full beard, 
hair cut in the latest fashion, and an Apollo in form and 
symmetry ; every motion portraying grace and at the same 
time indomitable strength. His father being immensely 
rich, young Gilbar had possessed unlimited advantages, 
which he had improved, possessing himself of more than an 
average college education in an intellectual sense and what 
is not a minor adjunct to a college course, an athletic 
training in every department and in all its branches. He 
had never done anything that was of the least practical 
use in the world, unless enjoying one’s self to the fullest 
extent of one’s tastes and desires could be called of prac- 
tical use. 

Don was fond of good living, had tasted of every form 
of dissipation and excitement in our large cities, barring 
the society of ladies. He was passionately fond of his 
sister Maud, but aside from her and his mother, whom he 
regarded with dutiful respect, he often remarked that per- 
sonally he would be as well satisfied if there wasn’t a 
woman in the world. True, his surroundings from his 
2 


i8 


PROPERTY OP DO AT GILBAR. 


youth up to the present time — and Don would be twenty- 
four in a few months — had thrown him constantly in society, 
and few knew so well how to act in the ball-room, theatre, 
or on the promenade ; but all this was a bore to him ; his 
happiness was in the rooms of the Killschuyl Club. 

He had not an equal among his associates at sparring, 
fencing, running or jumping, and had been stroke oar of 
his college crew. At all such sports Don excelled. His 
room denoted his tastes. The furniture was all expensive 
and not uncomfortable, at the same time it could not be 
called luxurious. On the walls were tastefully displayed 
foils, the latest improved rifles, especially adapted for 
target and clay pigeon shooting, also fishing-rods and a 
beautifully mounted shot-gun ; nor was there a lack of 
boxing gloves that had seen more or less wear, together 
with cricket bats, tennis racquets, and in fact everything 
that would be found in the apartments of an athlete, who 
was at the same time a sportsman and had alpoindant money 
at his command to supply his every wish. 

His companion, young Dr. Lykin, was an entirely 
different specimen ; somewhat larger than Don, powerfully 
built, and quite at ease in his movements, but far from 
being good-looking. Possessed of what seemed to be an 
over-abundance of red hair, fair, thin skin, decidedly 
freckled, rather large mouth, a faint yellow mustache, 
which Jack intended and no doubt thought would cover 
his large, slightly protruding upper teeth ; but if this was 
the mission of Jack’s mustache, it failed signally. Yet 
for all that, having been thrown in varied walks in life, as 
boy and man, he was always one of the most popular. 
This was undoubtedly due to his being possessed of a 
generous heart and a brilliant intellect. 

He had early developed a strong inclination to surgery. 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


19 


His youngest brother, James, had prophesied some time 
ago that Jack would make a good butcher and that he 
would make his fortune if he would go to Chicago and 
secure a job sticking pigs. 

But Jack aspired to something higher than this, and after 
receiving a thorough education in the best colleges in the 
East, he had been gaining experience in the hospitals in 
New York City. 

A few weeks before the morning on which we find them 
each apparently following some train of thought. Dr. 
Lykin had successfully performed a new and difficult 
operation in surgery, which older and more experienced 
hands had deemed impossible, making his name at once 
and forever famous throughout America and Continental 
Europe. 

The meeting of these two young men had been accident- 
al, and, as is so often the case under such circumstances, 
they had grown to be inseparable. It was one night at 
the Club ; Don had become involved in a quarrel over a 
game of cards and his opponents, far outnumbering him, 
were on the point of doing him great and serious bodily 
injury, when Jack, appearing on the scene — although all 
were entire strangers to him — took the part of weak in 
numbers against the strong, and without asking any ques- 
tions as to who was in the right or wrong, aided Don in 
coming out victorious and unharmed ; and from that night 
Jack and Don were fast friends. 

As a matter of course, Don spent much of his time in 
Dr. Lykin’s apartments, and in turn invited Jack to his 
own home. At first the young doctor declined and evaded 
his friend’s pressing invitations, claiming that his whole 
heart and mind were on his profession, that he had no 
time or inclination for social duties and pleasures. But 


20 


PROPERry OF DON G/LBAR. 


at last — as he had really grown very fond of Don — perceiv- 
ing that he was seriously straining their strong ties of 
affection by his constant refusals, he yielded one evening 
to young Gilbar’s especially earnest solicitations and 
accompanied him home. 

On this, Dr. Lykin’s fateful evening, the two young 
men had hardly been seated in the brilliantly lighted 
drawing-room of No. — Fifth Avenue, the magnificent resi- 
dence of Mr. Gilbar, when a light footfall came tripping 
along the hall and a melodious contralto voice was heard 
singing — 

“ I am so glad, Oh ! I am so glad, 

For he is coming to-night, coming to-night.” 

and a neat little figure, dressed to perfection in a soft 
clinging dress of gray, her jet black hair coiled high on 
her head, her black eyes snapping, appeared between the 
portieres, her red lips parted, showing her pearly white 
teeth, as she broke out in a hearty “ Ha ! ha ! ha ! ’* She 
ran towards Don and jumped on his lap with : 

“Good evening, dearie.’' Catching him by both ears, 
she kissed him again and again, on both cheeks, eyes, mouth 
and forehead ; and then before the broad-chested young 
man could regain his breath, she had glided demurely up 
to Jack, and extending a dainty hand which Jack made out 
to barely touch with his big freckled fingers, said : “ How 
do you do, Dr. Lykin ? Don is so very slow, he never 
seems to think it necessary to introduce me to anyone.” 

It appeared to Jack that anyone would have to be very 
quick to introduce this young lady, although he did not 
say anything; in fact he couldn’t. Not naturally bashful, 
and never at fault, being of an honest, serious disposition, 
lie never hesitated in saying and acting what he thought; 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 2 1 

but now his big heart was in his throat, rendering him for 
the moment speechless. But fortunately it wasn’t nec- 
essary or in fact possible for him to get a word in just yet, 
as Miss Gilbar rushed right ahead with — 

Don thinks I am a child yet. I really do not believe 
he remembers I made my debut several months ago ; and 
truly I am almost nineteen, although you might not think 
it. Do you know, you look just about like I expected you 
would. We have had Dr. Lykin for breakfast, Jack for 
lunch and both of them for dinner. For the last six weeks 
Don has talked of no one else, and I don’t believe he 
ever gives me a thought any more. My ! but he thinks 
you are great. But you are not looking well,” for Jack 
had really grown pale from conflicting emotions. ‘‘ Par- 
don me, please be seated,” offering an irresistible tempta- 
tion by seating herself on the sofa and drawing her skirts 
just the least little bit closer. 

The young doctor for the first time in his life really 
awkwardly sat down and, finding his voice, told a delib- 
erate lie by saying : 

“ I have not been well for some time ” — he had never 
felt an ache or pain in his life — but I am not expecting 
to work so hard as I have been doing and I will soon be 
picking up.” 

“ Please don't do that. Doctor. Stick to your work ; there 
may not be so much money in it, but I am sure you will 
get arrested if you go to ‘ picking up ’ things, and then I 
wouldn’t like you, even if you were freed on the plea of 
your being a kleptomaniac.” 

Jack laughed heartily and thought, 1 deserved this 
for the awkward way in which 1 expressed myself,” and 
then entering into the spirit of the conversation, he said : 

‘‘ I had not thought about picking up things until now. 


22 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


upon perceiving what bright shining articles are lying 
loose in portions of the city. 

I beg your pardon/’ said Miss Gilbar a little stiffly. 

“ However,” continued the doctor, “ the temptation must 
have come to me much the same as to the man who is 
seeing a diamond for the first time, and a remarkably 
brilliant one at that ” — this with an admiring look at his 
companion that could not be mistaken. 

“ Well, now, the last part of that is not so bad,” replied 
the little damsel, but when it comes to comparing me to 
an article and insinuating I am loose, I think you are 
very rude ; of course you were smart enough to fix it up 
before you stopped. Well, Don said you were smart, 
and so of course you are.” 

While this sprightly repartee was being carried on, Don 
had drawn his chair nearer the light, and had been look- 
ing over the evening paper. Apparently finding nothing 
of interest, he broke in upon the conversation with : 

My goodness, Maud, are we ever going to have din- 
ner ? Do you think I invited Dr. Lykin home with me 
just to listen to your foolishness and senseless prattle ? 
The man is positively starving, and his emaciated looks 
should show you this.” 

“ Of course you brought him home for me to see, and 
to amuse me ; and you are not a bit hungry, are you. Doc- 
tor ? ” queried Maud, jumping up. 

Oh no, indeed ; you are a rarer treat than the most 
tempting and daintiest of viands,” said the young doctor. 

Now then, Mr. Gilbar, you see there is some one who 
appreciates me.” 

At this they all laughed, and just then Mrs. Gilbar came 
into the room, followed in a few moments by Don’s father, 
who extended a hearty welcome to the young doctor, hav- 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


ing met him before at his office ; and as Jack was intro- 
duced to Mrs. Gilbar, dinner was announced. 

The Gilbars lived very luxuriously, and Jack was soon 
enjoying a sumptuous repast with his friend’s family, the 
enjoyment not a little enhanced by the sprightly wit of 
Don’s irrepressible sister. 

Jack had not been prepared to meet a young lady on 
accompanying Don to his home, as while young Gilbar 
had casually mentioned having a sister, the impression 
was made on Jack that this sister was yet a little girl. He 
had not heard of her victorious entry into society a few 
months previous, as he did not know Don at the time it 
occurred, and up to now had been literally without knowl- 
edge of the doings of society in general. 

Mr. Gilbar, Sr., had grown immensely rich,' being one 
of the most bold and successful financiers of the age. 
He was a man of small proportions, physically ; but his 
narrow shoulders supported a head of such unusual size 
as to make the man appear to be almost deformed. 

At middle age, already very rich, he had become in- 
fatuated with an actress, who after a short but persistent 
courtship married him and (although it was a matter of 

surprise to many) Nellie W had made Mr. Gilbar 

an exceptionally good wife. Some said there was very 
little affection between them, but that is a matter not to 
be discussed. 

An extremely handsome woman, she presided over her 
household with rare grace, and performed her duties when 
called upon, as hostess, brilliantly and in a manner above 
criticism. There could be no doubt that Mr. Gilbar was 
very proud of his wife and that his wife regarded her 
husband with the greatest esteem and respect. 

Their union had been blest with the two children, Don 


^4 


PROPKRl^Y OF DOX G/LPAR. 


and Maud, d'lie latter it was hard for tliein to think of 
except as ‘‘the baby”; two children of whom, taking 
everything into consideration, they had every reason to be 
proud. 

Coming into such a family, as the most intimate friend 
of the son and heir. Jack’s bark was launched under the 
most favorable circumstances upon the treacherous bosom 
of the sea of social excitement, and christened “ Excel- 
sior.” This, added to his phenomenal success as a sur- 
geon, coupled with a natural magnetism, made him one 
of the most sought after and honored young men of the 
day. 

For a time his life was one long .Summer day, without 
a cloud to mar the horizon of his ambition. Jlut there 
came a change; clouds appeared — not little fleecy vapors, 
but big dark storm-clouds, obscuring the sun of his happi- 
ness and chilling the atmosphere of his life to the tempera- 
ture of an Arctic Winter. 

On the first evening — and for some little time after — 
Jack met Miss Gilbar, he could not have told what he 
thought of her; his feelings and emotions were numbed. 
Then in a few weeks love came ; not as it comes to the 
many, but to the few ; a love for her possessed him body 
and soul, both waking and sleeping; there was no life 
only in her : — 


“ Thou art my life, my soul, my heart, 

The very eyes of me — 

'rhoii hast command of every part, 

To live and die for thee.” 

Dr. Lykin’s relations with Maud were so free from 
restraint and conventionalities of any kind that it would 
seem to have been a very easy matter for him to tell her 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 25 

of his deep love ; but it was for this very reason that a 
fitting opportunity never presented itself. 

His leisure moments were spent almost entirely with 
her; she seemed to almost prefer his society to that of 
anyone else, — at least there was no doubt that she en- 
joyed his ready wit and sharp retorts, being at times more 
than a match for her. But to bring an earnest thought 
or a serious subject into the conversation when talking to 
Maud Gilbar was simply impossible. 

Nor was Jack impatient. She was kind to him and he 
was happy, his mind constantly occupied with his profes- 
sion and his great love ; so that he did not even seek to 
make an opportunity, when he might know (what he was 
taking to a great extent as a matter of course) that his 
love, at least in a measure, was returned. 

But the time came when he was to meet with his first 
discouragement, and it happened in this way. 

He had made an engagement to escort Miss Gilbar to 
the opera, but on calling for her, found she was a little 
indisposed ; and upon an invitation to spend the evening 
with her at home, especially as Don was out for an hour 
and she felt so lonesome, he dispossessed himself of coat 
and hat and sat down by her side with nothing of disap- 
pointment depicted in his countenance at the change in 
the programme. 

ril not dismiss the carriage, as I will only stay a 
little while. This is pure fickleness on your part ; you were 
just wild to hear Norma ; and frightened almost to death, 
fearing I would take Miss Warmsley instead of you. I 
don’t believe you are one bit sick ; you just do these 
things to make your slave miserable with this forced im- 
prisonment.” 

And then pausing for the expected retort. Jack was 


26 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


surprised and moved by receiving nothing but a faint, 
pitiful smile. 

Never having seen her in such a mood, nor half so 
.winning, his immeasurable love rushed uncontrolled from 
heart to lip, and with these words he wooed her : 

“ Maud, darling, are you suffering so ? If I could only 
bear for you your every pain and leave you nothing but 
happiness and joy! I have loved you always; you are 
everything in the world to me, — more than life, ambition, 
and all the honors that my brightest hopes have antici- 
pated. Can you love me ? Will you be my wife and 
make my happiness more than mortal ? ’’ 

Her very stillness made him bold and his speaking 
easy. He would have said more, much more, had she 
not interrupted him with the heartiest — 

‘‘Ha! ha! ha! Jack, you always were funny; but 
this is one of the best things you ever got off ; indeed 
it is real good of you to make me forget I am sick, and 
you did look so comical and in earnest. I didn’t want to 
stop you, but it was so funny. Ha ! ha ! ha ! ” 

“ Miss Gilbar,” said the young doctor, drawing himself 
up to his full height, “ the love of any honest man is 
not a matter of derision and is entitled at least to re- 
spect.” 

“Now hold on. Jack,” said Maud, standing almost on 
tiptoe and placing her dainty little hand upon his 
shoulder; “please don’t scold me; you never did that 
before. If you don’t like me, do not come where I am ; 
but I won’t be scolded ; ” and then, softening and letting 
him feel her precious little weight, she added : “ Now 
really, do not be so foolish ; we have been such good 
company for each other ; don’t be angry, and promise 
you will never be silly again.” 


property op dojy g/lpar. 


27 


Please be seated, 3[iss Gilbar,” said Jack, gently 
guiding her to a chair.” I cannot go without telling you 
I am not angry with you now ; but my disappointment 
is greater than I can bear. My ambition, every fond 
hope in life, is gone ; do not fear that I will ever talk to 
you again as T have to-night ; but I shall love you for 
ever. I know myself too well to hope that it can ever 
be otherwise; some day you will look at life in a more 
serious light, but God grant that day may be far distant. 
You are far happier now. I think that, with everyone, 
earnestness brings with it more of sorrow than of joy. 
Good-bye, darling,” and touching her brow, unresisted, 
fervently with his lips, he was gone without another 
word. 

“ Well, if he isn’t the biggest fool, dear noble old Jack ! ” 
And then Maud, womanlike, gave vent to her emotions in 
a flood of tears. And here Don found her, an hour later, 
curled up in her chair, fast asleep, with tear stains still 
upon her cheeks. 

“ Why, what’s the matter, my dear little sister } Are 
you sick, or have you and Jack had a quarrel ? ” knowing 
Jack was expecting to go to the opera with Maud that 
evening and it was not yet time for them to have re- 
turned. 

“ Oh ! don’t ask so many questions, dearie. Yes, I am 
sick; and yes. Jack was here,” and, laughing a little, 
“that’s all.” Kissing him, she said “good-night,” and 
Don, like a good brother, did not then, or afterward, annoy 
her with further questioning, and, bidding her an affec- 
tionate good-night, they parted. 

From this night. Dr. Lykin was changed ; he slighted 
his work, although making a manful effort to continue 
as he had always done before. But his unfaltering nerve 


28 * PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

and steady eye were gone ; everything grew distasteful 
to him ; he was missed from the club ; declined all in- 
vitations, without even making an excuse or offering a 
regret, and before long began pining for a change. And 
then it was he thought of returning to his old home on 
the farm ; with the hope that by severe toil and ex- 
posure he might regain his lost appetite and once more 
enjoy the luxury of sound, healthy sleep. He was more 
than ever in Don’s company, but seldom called at the 
(jilbar mansion ; and when he did, it was only to make 
a conventional call and pay his respects to Mr. and 
Mrs. Gilbar, as he felt was his duty'towards people who 
had uniformly treated him with such extremely cordial 
hospitality. He there as a matter of course saw Maud, 
but she had grown so shy and treated him with such 
cold, distant courtesy, that he felt that he had offended 
her beyond forgiveness and must carry his love without 
hope to the grave. How little did he know a woman’s heart ! 

On the very night that Jack had tried to plead his 
cause so earnestly at the shrine of his divinity. Miss 
Gilbar found that she had a heart, and within the hour 
also found that she had parted with it : it was Jack’s, 
all Jack’s; and burying her burning cheeks in the snowy 
pillows, with shame at her levity over a matter that was 
now of just as much importance to her as it could pos- 
sibly be, she had cried herself to sleep. But for the life 
of her she could not have told whether it was fo'r joy 
or fear; great joy at knowing Jack loved her, or fear 
that she had driven him away for ever. And it was the 
knowledge of her own love that made her shy. 

So this was the state of affairs when Jack one day 
made the bald, emphatic statement to Don that he was 
going home. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


29 


“ Do you know/’ said Don, “ I have been expecting 
this, old man ; and as I have learned to love you as a 
brother, believe me I sincerely regret what I am almost 
sure is the cause of the great change in you. But are 
you not a little hasty 't You, who are so noted for your 
bravery and determined spirit, should not be easily dis- 
couraged.” 

“ Don’t, Don,” said Jack, “don’t talk to me about it. 
You know what has broken my life and I thank you for 
not putting it into plain words ; but do not urge me to 
stay ; I must, I will, leave this hateful city. Would to 
God I had never left the farm.” 

So Don desisted from further argument. 

As he had long wished to make a trip through the 
West, he then and there proposed to Jack that he should 
accompany him home. 

“ Will you go with me ? ” cried Jack, seizing both of 
his hands ; “ could you content yourself on those lone- 
some plains, even for a day, after the gay life you have 
always led } or do you say you will go just to please me t 
Your affection shames me, and I will try to take up a 
new life, if only for your sake.” 

And then Don explained that he thought the world of 
Jack, and didn’t care one bit for the city ; that, anyhow, 
the dream of his life was to see the great West. 

So it was decided that Don would go home with 
Jack, a decision that more than pleased Don’s father, 
who feared Don was growing too fond of poker and 
rather too wild in the city, with nothing to occupy his 
mind. 

Only after he had exhausted every plea he could think 
of, did Jack consent to be present at the reception, given 
mainly in his honor ; but now it was over and being the 


PRO PER TV OF DON GILPAR. 


3 ^ 

last Don and Jack would see of city gayeties for a time, 
all their thoughts were turned westward. 

Well, Jack, what time did you say we started this 
evening ? ’’ 

At 5.10, on the limited express for Chicago,’’ replied 
Jack ; “ I have secured our tickets and apartments ; so 
you have nothing to do but send your trunk to the depot. 
Get your lazy self there in some way and jump aboard. 
This fellow spreads it on pretty thick in his account of 
last night, doesn’t he ? ” 

“ I didn’t see it. What did he say ? ” 

“ Oh, nothing much, but that you and I were the shin- 
ing lights. Bah ! How disgusting it all is. Did you 

notice how that old Mrs. W worked her cards to get 

me to dance with her (as she thinks) lovely daughter ? 
Well, I gave in gracefully. Dolly was as good as any to 
dance with ; she doesn’t waltz badly that’s one thing. You 
got me into that affair and of course I fully appreciate 
the kindness of your mother and father in so highly 
honoring me ; but I went through the whole performance 
like a stick ; I really did not know what I was doing 
half the time. Ah ! Good-morning, Miss Maud,” jump- 
ing up ; ‘‘ how do you do after last night’s dissipation ? 
Seems to me that old Major Collins must be very charm- 
ing in some people’s eyes, when you take into considera- 
tion how continually they danced together.” 

‘‘When were you appointed my guardian, Mr. Jack ? ” 
retorted Maud. “ I must talk to somebody, and also 
waltz, and as no one else took pity on me 1 feel very 
thankful to the Major.” 

All this was somewhat exaggerated. Maud had re- 
ceived a great deal of attention from all the young men ; 
but feeling very sad at the thought that this would be the 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 31 

last night, for some time, she would be with her brother 
and the man who was dearer to her than all else on 
earth, the sober old Major was more in accord with her 
drooping spirits than the younger men who were there ; 
but what hurt her most was that Jack had not asked her 
for even one dance. She had hoped much from this last 
night, and had dreamed of the opportunity she felt sure 
would then be presented to tell Jack that now she loved 
him all his heart could wish. But Jack, sensitive to a 
fault where his love was in question, did not dare brook 
a second refusal ; nor could he trust himself to feel 
Maud’s warm heart beating against his breast, and keep 
within him words of love that were in spite of all so con- 
stantly in his mind. So these two were but little together, 
although both had but one thought, and that for each 
other. 

“ Well, little girl,” said Don, we boys will not be a 
trouble to you much longer, for a time at least.” 

‘‘ I never said you were a trouble, dearie,” retorted 
Maud, going over to Don and throwing her plump little 
arms about his neck. “ I wish you were not going on 
this trip ; you are both foolish,” — this with a sly glance 
at Jack — ‘‘to leave right in the height of the season. 
Somehow, I feel something will happen to you way out 
there, and you know I should never get over it if anything 
should happen to ” — she hesitated a moment — “ either of 
you.” 

Maud was very demure this morning and was really 
feeling unwarrantably sad, as Don had often been from 
home for a longer period than he was expecting to stay 
this time ; but it wasn’t Don altogether ; it was the 
thought: Am I losing Jack forever? How could she ex- 
press to him, without a sacrifice of maidenly modesty, 


32 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


that his suit would not be met with mirth would he only 
press it again. 

But time was fast fleeting away, and in the bustle and 
confusion of getting “ the boys ” off, there was little 
opportunity for more than a formal bidding adieu. And 
after a busy day (as no matter whether the journey be 
short or long there is always so much to do at the last 
moment), Jack and Don had said good-bye and, ten 
minutes past five, were seated in the luxurious parlor-car 
on the Chicago Limited Express, and with the turning of 
the wheels of the powerful engine, they bade good-bye to 
New York. 

They said little for a time, both being deeply wrapt in 
thought, and both wrong in their conjecture as to which 
would first again see the great city. Their trip was un- 
eventful; the first part of the journey being in pleasant 
weather ; and although it began growing much colder as 
the long train sped across the prairies of Illinois, they 
could not feel the change, seated in the comfortable car, 
and hardly noticed it until the snow began to fall and 
they ran into the great storm. 

The difficulty in seeing signals and the necessity of 
slackening speed as a precaution in the driving snow, 
caused them to be about an hour late in reaching their 
destination; but at six o’clock, engine No. 102 appeared 
to the anxious little group of hardy farmers who were 
braving the fierce storm and anxiously awaiting its itrrival. 

Like a huge monster, its headlight glaring through the 
gloom of the fast approaching darkness, it came to a stop, 
panting and puffing, as if exhausted from its battle with 
the elements. 


PROFEKTY OF DON G/LBAP 


33 


CHAPTER III. 

Hollo, Jack!” shouted old Squire Lykins, “you 
picked out a fine day to come home ; but we are glad to 
see you. So this is your friend. What’s his name ? ” 

“This is Mr. Don Gilbar,” responded Jack. “My 
father, Don.” 

The old farmer grasped Don firmly by the hand, and 
the powerful grip with which Don returned the salutation 
raised him at once in the old Squire’s estimation. 

“ You are just as welcome as you can be,” said the 
Squire to Don. “ It is pretty rough out here, and I don’t 
know how you will stand it after your delicate city 
ways ; but we will do our best to furnish you some good 
sport.” 

“ Thank you very much, Mr. Lykin, I am very pleased 
to meet you; and if you are Jack’s sort, you and I will 
get along I am sure. As to my standing it out here, if I 
don’t prove the equal of the hardiest man on your farms, 
in strength and endurance, you can put me down for a 
duffer.” 

The Squire having been on the frontier so long, wasn’t 
right sure what a duffer looked like ; but as he was grow- 
ing more pleased with Jack’s friend every minute, he 
mentally decided that he wouldn’t put Don down for 
anything that wasn’t “ just about right.” 

After cordially greeting the delegation who had braved 
the storm and crossed the road to meet them, the young 
men, with their friends, repaired to the inn and after 
3 


34 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


partaking of a substantial repast, discussed the advisa- 
bility of driving thirty miles across the country in an open 
sleigh to Jack^s brother Stephen’s. 

Stephen was Squire Lykin’s oldest son, to whom upon 
his marriage day, some years before, the Squire had 
given a large prairie farm, about thirty-six or thirty- 
seven miles from the home f;irm. Here Stephen chiefly 
raised corn during the Summer season and in the Fall 
and Winter months fattened large droves of cattle and 
hogs, which were owned in partnership with his father. 

Jack had spent most of his days, before going East, on 
this prairie farm and it was his intention now to return 
there and invest some of his money along with his bro- 
ther Stephen ; all of which had been arranged by letter 
before Jack left the East. 

The snow continued to fall heavily and although the 
wind blew bitterly cold, the temperature had not fallen 
since dark and there was every prospect that the storm 
would continue all night and until the next day at least. 
The villagers and near-by farmers, who had congregated 
at the hostelry, in every way endeavored to dissuade 
them from starting before the next morning, urging that 
they could not find the road in such a driving storm, or 
even finding the track, it would be so blocked with the 
drifted snow that their progress must necessarily be very 
slow. 

However, opposition seemed to make these men all the 
more determined. Don was more than anxious to make 
the trip, as it would be a new experience for him, his 
healthy blood l)ounding through his veins as he thought 
of battling with the biting gale. It seemed to him he 
would be repaid for coming West this one night, in the 
grand experience that was in prospect. He didn’t come 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


35 


West to sit by the fire ; he had always gloried in hearing 
and reading of just such nights on the frontier as this, 
and of the men who braved the storms and came through 
them unharmed. As yet Don had never met his match, 
and felt in his heart disposed to laugh at the snow 
and cold. 

As for Jack, he didn’t care so much ; he more fully 
appreciated what was before them than did Don, having 
suffered from Iowa snows when a boy. But he really 
didn’t care ; his spirits, which had been so drooping for 
a time, were beginning to rise with the occasion, and so 
far as he gave it a thought a little bodily pain would be a 
positive relief from the constant agony gnawing at his 
heart. 

While comfortably seated in the parlor car on their 
trip of about half-way across the continent, he had noth- 
ing to do but think. Starting out with a ray of hope, be- 
cause Miss Gilbar had asked him to write to her, his 
thoughts had given him less and less of comfort as the 
hours slowly passed and were dragging him into deeper 
despair, until upon nearing home they had been turned 
into another channel, and for a time he was forgetting the 
immediate past, thinking of his early days with the grati- 
fication always attending the returning home of a dutiful 
son. 

Squire Lykin argued that he knew every foot of the 
way, that the snow was yet light upon the ground and 
would not be drifted in the timber, through which the 
most of their route — some’twenty miles — lay. He had as 
good a team as ever jingled bells; somebody had to 
break the road, why not he ? Those who opposed him 
were growing to be a lot of old women ; every one of 
them had been out much colder nights; he could stand 


3 ^ 


PROPERTY OF DON 0/LBAR. 


the drive and so could the boys; he didn’t believe in 
raising children to be afraid of hoar frost. 

So it was decided that they should start at once. The 
team was ordered up to the door, and muffled in their 
furs, the three hardy men stepped into the sleigh and in 
less time than it takes to tell it had left the cheerful lights 
of first the inn and then the thriving city, carrying with 
them the good wishes and expressions of their less brave 
associates that the old Squire and his companions were 
made of the right stuff. 

They crossed the bridge over the creek, and turning 
sharply to the right, drove on and out into the black night, 
lighted only by the fast falling, fleecy snow. Jack had 
been away from home some seven years, leaving when he 
was about nineteen, and there had been so many changes 
in this thriving Western section that in the uncertain 
light the surroundings appeared not less familiar to him 
than to Don. But the Squire had been making trips all 
over the country, in all kinds of weather, the past thirty 
years, so that he was a safe pilot. 

It was too cold and the storm and the wind too penetrat- 
ing for a very connected conversation, so that after a few 
further inquiries after mother, the health of the family in 
particular and the community in general, some compli- 
mentary remarks on the team and the Squire’s turnout, 
talk ceased entirely and each settled* down in the robes, 
devoting their energies, the Squire to the driving, and the 
young men to keeping warm. Thus they passed the 
scattering farm houses, which grew less and less as the 
distance increased between them and the town. 

And so the first six miles succumbed to the powerful 
strides of their blooded team in a little more than an hour, 
for the roads so far had been fairly good, there having 


PROPERTY OF DON C/LB A R. 


37 

been enough travel during the day to keep them par- 
tially open. And then Jack said : 

“ I am getting cold, especially my feet. What do you 
say, Don, to taking a little run ; and then I will get in and 
drive, if father wants to take a turn at putting his blood 
in circulation.” 

This proposition meeting with Don’s approval, they 
tumbled out of the sleigh and, throwing their shoulders 
well back, trotted behind in true Indian style. 

After a run of a mile, they were beginning to think of 
regaining their seats, when something entirely unforeseen 
and unexpected happened. 

The Squire had been congratulating himself on his 
horse-flesh, thinking : “ What a mighty steady colt ! 

Old Billy couldn’t have traveled^ truer than he does, and 
I believe he is fresher than when I left home,” for Ben 
had been making long, steady strides without a stumble 
or a faulty step, since they left the town, neither swerv- 
ing to the right or left, true as the compass needle ; forg- 
ing ahead, his hard flat feet scorning the miles as they left 
them behind. So the Squire had loosened his pull on 
the bit, as the horses settled down to their even, never- 
tiring gait ; but he was soon to know that his confidence 
was placed in a false security. 

Driving into a small clearing in the forest, without a 
moment’s warning,^ a terrible crash and deafening noise 
burst above the roaring of the storm. 

Two woodmen, in felling a rugged oak the previous 
day, had misjudged their curf, and instead of falling to 
the ground, the huge mass had been caught by its wide- 
spreading branches and hung suspended in the air until 
the great weight of snow tore it from its lodgment, and it 
fell to the ground with a crash unheard of, as it was un- 


38 PROPERTY OF DON GILPAR, 

expected. The horses sprang into the air with a snort of 
terror, and, beyond control, they flew away at the top of 
their speed. 

Instinctively, both men in the road sprang toward the 
sleigh. Jack, being nearest, secured his hold and tumbled 
in ; but Don, a moment too late, measured his length in 
the road, striking his head on a corner of the projecting 
runner as he fell, stunned for the moment. 

He regained the full consciousness of his senses to find 
himself alone in the midst of the great woods, a situation 
rendered more perilous by the bitter cold, and presently 
his ideas again became confused as the warm blood from 
the slight wound in his head dropped, dropped, dropped 
on the pure white snow, to be lost forever in the flakes 
following fast upon each other. He could hardly think, but 
stumbled forward, feeling somehow that it would be death 
to remain inactive. 

Wrapping the reins around his arms, the old Squire 
pulled and tugged with all his strength, powerless to check 
the speed of the affrighted steeds. On they plunged 
through the darkness of the night and the blinding snow. 
The Squire’s soothing and again commanding voice was 
unheeded, if indeed it could be distinguished above the 
howling winds. 

Thoroughly frightened as they were, a stump, or, swerv- 
ing from side to side in their mad career, anon striking 
the trees along the side, causing an avalanche of snow and 
dead branches to beat upon their swaying backs and 
heads, only added to their terror, until, from sheer exhaus- 
tion, their killing pace slackened, grew less and less, and, 
unable to put forth a further effort, they stood still; heav- 
ing, panting, trembling in every nerve, unable to .make 
further progress whatever danger threatened them. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


39 


“My God, where is Don, father?” cried Jack, the 
moment he could collect his thoughts. Everything had 
happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, the constant 
danger of being dashed to pieces in their mad flight and 
battling with the running team had for the time driven 
all else from their minds save the thought of self-preserva- 
tion, which springs instinctively into every human breast 
in times of great danger. 

“ Isn’t he here ? Didn’t you both gain the sleigh ? ” 
anxiously asked the farmer. ‘‘ I had all I could do with 
these mad horses. Great God ! what will he ever do, a 
stranger in the forest and on such a night? Where are 
we. Jack, anyhow? I don’t feel right somehow. I am 
falling. Oh ! save ” 

The severe strain, the excitement, the bitter cold, 
almost congealing the blood in his veins, proved too much 
for the old Squire, hardened and schooled though he was 
to a life of exposure. Grasping at nothing, he fell insen- 
sible from the sleigh before Jack could catch him. 

The horses scarcely moved at this additional confusion, 
while Jack, instantly bounding to his father’s side, with 
almost superhuman strength dragged, pushed and lifted 
the heavy, inert weight again into the sleigh, and, scarcely 
knowing what he did, covered the poor man with the 
robes ; he took up the reins and urged the wearied horses 
into motion, they having had time to regain partial vitality. 

What should he do ? Whither should he drive ? He 
could form no idea as to the distance to the nearest hab- 
itation, nor in what direction it lay. Was he retracing 
their steps, or was he moving forward ? All was the 
merest conjecture with him. Still he must do something ; 
to remaiii inactive was courting death for himself and his 
father, if indeed his father were not already dead. 


40 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


And so, without any especial aim or purpose, he forced 
the unwilling horses on a few miles, when the barking of 
some dogs gladdened his ears ; and almost at the same 
moment he drove into a clearing, where stood a substantial 
dwelling, although without sign of any inward life. But 
the howling of the dogs and Jack’s stentorian voice — his 
faculties once more alert as prospects of assistance ap- 
peared at hand — soon brought a head through an open 
window and a voice called back through the storm : 

Who in the devil is there ? You have got a bad night 
for traveling, stranger ; but wait a minute until I get 
something on and we will try to find more comfortable 
quarters than I should say you have out there.’’ 

Well, hurry; don’t be all night letting me in,” shouted 
back Jack ; “ I have a man with me almost dead.” 

The Squire was beginning to move about in the bottom 
of the sleigh, to Jack’s intense delight. 

Is that so ” replied the voice ; “I will be right out 
to you,” and closing the window with a slam, a man of 
short stature almost instantly appeared through an open- 
ing door and came floundering through the snow toward 
the travelers, pulling on his blouse and settling his crude 
fur cap more firmly about his ears as he came. “Well, 
who are you } ” asked the man. “ You are welcome a 
night like this, even if you are escaping from the sheriff, 
but old Zack Gibbons always wants to know who he is 
talking to ; one can talk better, somehow, if he knows a 
man’s name. Now, I have told you who I am, what 
might I call you ? ” 

“Jack Lykin, and this is my father. Squire Hugh 
Lykin,” replied Jack, as Zack Gibbons reached the side 
of the sleigh. ‘‘ Now, don’t waste time talking. Help 
me to get father into the house, for this night, taking it 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


41 


all in all, has well-nigh cost the poor old man his life. 
Come, bear a hand here.’’ 

“Old Squire Lykin, did you say?” queried Zack. 
“ Well, I thought it would be many a long year before I 
would see the Squire give in to a little snow and frosty 
weather like this, although I acknowledge it’s a pretty 
bad night. Help you in with him ? ’Course I will ; there 
isn’t a man in all Iowa more welcome to the Hotel de 
Gibbons,” as Zack facetiously dubbed his forest inn, 
“than old Squire Lykin. So you are Jack, are you? 
The Squire was telling me, the last time he was through 
here, that you would be home soon, but I must say I 
wasn’t looking for you to-night.” 

During the flow of conversation by mine host, the little 
party had made their way across the short distance to the 
house, the Squire having revived sufficiently to move 
forward with the assistance of the two men. 

The slumbering fire in the big open fireplace had been 
rudely awakened by the weight of fresh logs thrown 
upon it and, as if in wrath at this rough disturbance, it 
roared and crackled, its bright flame rushing up the mas- 
sive chimney, casting a fierce light at the frost-covered 
windows. 

Chafing the Squire’s wrists and temples with snow and 
ice, and pouring a plentiful supply of brandy down his 
throat, soon revived him in a measure, aided by the cheer- 
ful glow of the fire and the genial atmosphere of the room. 

In the meanwhile, the exhausted horses had been 
sheltered in the comfortable stalls of the Gibbons’s com- 
modious barn and knee deep in the bright dry straw, had 
after nibbling a bite or two of hay and cooling their burn- 
ing throats with a bucket of the purest water, almost im- 
mediately lain down. 


42 


PkOPERTY OF DON GFLBAR. 


I'hen it was that Jack, as yet hardly feeling the tax 
upon his energies in his great anxiety over the where- 
abouts of his dearest friend, feeling that all he could do 
had been done for his father, and that all that was now 
required was a few hours’ rest to restore Squire Lykin 
to his wonted activity, accosted the genial landlord with : 

How many horses have you, Mr. Gibbons, and how 
many men are there in the house and in the neighborhood 't 
for we have got to scour every foot of the woods between 
here and Pleasantville. Rouse them now ; get them all 
out ; I want to start at once.” 

“ Now don’t, ‘ Mr.’ me, in the first place,” said Zack ; 
‘‘ you can get much more out of me by calling me just 
‘ Zack,’ because then I think you are my friend ; and in 
the next place, what’s the matter with you ? You’re not 
getting wild are you, over the little bit of brandy you 
took, and coming in the hot room ? Go back to Pleasant- 
ville to-night and expect me and ail the fellows to follow 
you ! You are crazy, man ; but you needn’t think I’m no 
fool.” 

This last caused Jack to smile in spite of his troubled 
heart. 

‘‘ Why didn’t you stay there, if this isn’t good enough 
for you ? Get out,” continued the irate host, thoroughly 
angered that anyone should want to leave his hospitable 
walls and talk, as he hastily judged, with drunken im- 
becility. 

But Jack tersely explained the thrilling experience of 
the night, and how hi-s boon companion, a stranger to 
such a life, in the midst of the thick timber was strug- 
gling alone with the howling storm, if God in his mercy 
had given him strength enough to keep the breath in his 
body. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


43 


At first, old Zack contended that it was useless to 
attempt to find anyone, dead or alive, that night ; wait 
until morning. If the man was alive, it was because he 
had found shelter ; if he was dead, he wouldn’t mind stay- 
ing out a few hours longer. But finally, after offering 
large monetary rewards, Jack and the Squire induced a 
score of men, a part of whom were connected with the 
house and stable and the remainder being made up of 
those storm-bound, and who for other reasons were stopping 
at the Gibbons House, to engage in a search for the unfortu- 
nate young man so perilously exposed to the pitiless 
storm. 

The majority of the searching party were almost as 
familiar with the paths in the surrounding woods as with 
Zack Gibbons’s cheerful hearthstone ; but the deep snow 
had so obliterated all natural signs that to-night a stranger 
was but little more at fault than one bred and reared in 
the forest. So they arranged a code of signals to be used 
in preventing them from being lost, one from the other, 
as they scattered, preparatory to making a thorough 
search. All were protected from the storm, as their 
several tastes and inclinations dictated. Some took meat 
and others drink, as an aid, should their spirits flag in a 
protracted seeking for the missing man. 

All night long they beat the woods, at intervals build- 
ing fires to warm their freezing bodies and, by gaining 
short rests, be able to continue their fruitless hunt ; at 
times shouting at the top of their voices, or firing off a 
gun, in the vain hope that they might elicit some faint re- 
sponse to their endeavors to make their presence known 
to young Gilbar, if he were still alive. 

They hunted in pairs, they hunted singly, and again 
they all collected in a group for consultation and instruc- 


44 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


tions how they should proceed further. Jack’s ken of the 
forests of his boyhood days came back to him instinc- 
tively ; he was the acknowledged leader as a matter of 
course. After hours of vain search, blazing the trees at 
intervals, as they proceeded, to prevent danger of being 
lost in the woods, now trackless from the falling snow, 
they came to the clearing from where the horses started 
to run. This they could tell by the tree which had been 
the source of their anguish and despair. 

The steadily falling snow was much deeper than when 
Jack left the spot a few hours before, entirely obliterating 
any tracks and destroying any appearance of a road. 
From here they redoubled their efforts, and Jack’s hopes 
arose, knowing Don’s stalwart build and iron nerve, think- 
ing that he had from this point retraced his footsteps 
toward the town. This was a wise thought, as very 
naturally Don would feel sure of being lost should he 
attempt to follow the direction taken by the runaway 
team ; whereas the road back to the city would be fresh 
in his mind ; and to an athlete like young Gilbar a tramp 
of six or seven miles through the snow, and in such a 
storm, while it would not be play, would be far from an 
impossibility. 

Jack wondered why he had not thought of this before 
and remained quietly at the Gibbons House. So sure did 
he now feel that his friend was safe in the village, or in 
some sheltering farmhouse along the road, that he dis- 
missed his men, telling each one to go his way, and 
promising a munificent remuneration to all who had served 
him so faithfully and well ; upon which they separated, 
some to return to Zack Gibbons’s and some to continue on 
to the town. 

Jack pressed as rapidly as possible towards the inn in 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


45 


Pleasantville, inquiring at every house he came to if any 
stranger had knocked at their gates, asking for shelter 
during the night, only to be met with sometimes a pleasant, 
sometimes a surly, negative reply, until a while after day- 
light, when he reached the Pleasantville House with- 
out tidings of young Don. Nor had he returned to the 
village. 

'rhe snow, without abatement, continued falling until the 
afternoon of the second day, when it ceased, followed by 
intense cold, the temperature falling many degrees below 
zero. Large and small parties were formed to search for 
the missing man and everything that experience and 
theory could suggest was done, but to no avail, and Jack 
was forced to the conclusion at last, which older heads 
than his had come to, that poor Don had perished in the 
storm ; nor were there any hopes of finding his body until 
the snows disappeared in the spring. 

Squire Lykin very soon recovered from his indispo- 
sition, attendant upon the excitement of the ever-to-be- 
remembered night for its sad ending and aided very 
materially, both by his counsel and personal efforts in the 
search. He did this principally to please Jack, as his 
better judgment told him from the first that there was but 
little chance of ever finding Don Gilbar alive. 

After the search had been given over, the Squire and 
Jack made the journey to Stephen's farm in safety, where 
Jack was heartily welcomed by his brother and all the 
family. They found the loss of stock during the storm 
had been less than in former years, during such disas- 
trous times. This was due undoubtedly to their being 
better prepared every year for the severe Winter weather. 

Being thoroughly convinced that Don was numbered with 
the dead. Jack apprised young Gilbar’s family of the fact, 


46 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


recounting the minutest details connected with the events 
of the terrible storm. 

Don’s loss was mourned bitterly, and for a time they 
refused to be comforted. A desultory correspondence 
was carried on during the winter, between Jack and the 
family ; he was at all times sending them strong words 
of sympathy and expressions of cheerfulness, not- 
withstanding his own heart was heavy, until gradually 
the acute pain was allayed, and they took up the thread 
of life, resuming their old duties in a natural way and 
with hope that in time the bitter sorrow might pass away. 

Jack worked hard and faithfully at Stephen’s, making 
visits at intervals of a few days to the home farm. The 
country maidens vied with each other to win a smile 
from his stern, set lips, but all to no purpose. He studied 
a great deal, and wrote some valuable articles on surgery. 
His mind in a great measure resumed its activity, but 
his heart was dull and heavy ; pretty girls, with bright 
ribbons and snowy pinafores, had no charms for the pre- 
maturely old man. 

The winter proved to be one of unusual severity while 
it lasted, there being continuous snows and much bitter 
cold weather ; and then spring weather came all at once. 
Rains and warm sunshine melted the snow in a marvelous 
manner ; there were freshets, loss of stock and property 
along the streams, but by May — so strangely are we con- 
stituted — the inhabitants of S County had forgotten 

that there ever was a Winter, busying themselves in plant- 
ing the crops, beneath the rays of the warm Spring sun 
and the dome of the deep blue sky. 

A most extended patroling of the forest for miles in all 
directions had failed to elicit any signs of Don Gilbar, dead 
or alive. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


47 


Early in May, at the most earnest solicitations of Mr. and 
Mrs. Gilbar, Jack returned to New York City, they saying 
it would be a great comfort to them to have him, who had 
been so dear to their son, with them for so long as he 
would be contented to remain. 


48 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


CHAPTER IV. 

Maud had been in a flutter of excitement ever since 
Jack had promised definitely to come and had named the 
day on which they might expect him. She loved Jack 
madly ; often she censured herself for thinking so contin- 
ually of him. The loss of poor Don, after the first sting 
had passed away, could not make her feel as sad as she 
thought she ought to feel. Jack was now everything to 
her, and what if he had ceased to care for her } Perish 
the thought — he must love her ; she would make him. 
He could not but know that she was nervous at the time 
— it now seemed so long ago — that he had asked her to 
be his wife, with so much of truthful earnestness shining 
out of his blue eyes. 

What a contrast there was between big, strong, honest 
Jack and all the fools that she had been forced to depend 
on for society. They were all the time calling her a 
“dream,” a “poem”; she was “divine,” until she was 
sick and tired of it. 

And now Jack was really coming. “Glory! Glory! 
Glory ! ” sang the little maiden, clapping her hands in 
glee at the thought, forgetting all the past in the intoxicat- 
ing delight of the present. 

One lovely Spring afternoon, when the sun was making 
a manful effort to brighten the smoke-covered city and 
succeeding in making a soft, dreamy light, Jack ran up the 
steps of the Gilbar residence, rang the bell, while a flood 
of thoughts rushed over him, — thoughts of his lost friend, 


PROPERTY OF DON- GTLBAR. 


49 

and thoughts of his Queen of Hearts, whom he would see 
again. 

The old footman welcomed him respectfully, and, “ Yes, 
Mrs. and Miss Gilbar are at home,’’ he said, and made 
bold to take the responsibility of adding, “ they will be 
pleased to come down the instant Dr. Lykin’s card is pre- 
sented.” 

Mrs. Gilbar came first. Jack was shocked at the great 
change in her ; the handsome woman had aged ten years 
in appearance. She grieved constantly for Don ; always 
so proud of her handsome son, his loss was irreparable to 
her. She gave Jack a hearty welcome, although forcing 
the tears back and by a supreme will retaining command 
of herself. Jack’s presence causing her great loss to pre- 
sent itself so vividly to her mind, came near losing her her 
control. After being seated, they chatted a moment, when, 
hearing a slight scream, Jack immediately rose to his feel 
as Maud, not a particle different from when he first saw 
her, it seemed to Jack, came running into the room. 

Good old George, the footman, had not been able to 
find his little mistress at first, as Jack was not expected 
until later in the day. The household had all been 
engaged in their several pursuits when he arrived, hence 
the little scream of delight Jack heard when Maud was 
found and apprised of his arrival. 

Without the slightest warning or hesitancy at her 
mother’s presence, she rushed right at Jack, and, throwing 
her dimpled arms about his neck, kissed him fair and 
square ; then, realizing what she had done, she impulsively 
pushed him from her ; her snowy neck and face to the tips 
of her dainty ears turned scarlet with confusion as Jack, 
too, for the instant oblivious of the fact that they were not 
alone, was clasping her to his heart, with ; 

4 


5 ^ 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


My darling, do you ” 

But Maud, recovering herself rapidly, quickly checked 
him. 

Yes, I do a great many foolish things, and 1 don’t 
wonder you hate me.” 

“ But, Maud ” started Jack. 

“ Well, let’s not argue right here before mamma ; it’s 
very rude.” 

At all this Mrs. Gilbar only faintly smiled ; she had 
never tried to correct or restrain Maud in her wild, spon- 
taneous ways. She was kind and indulgent to a fault 
toward her, but everything approaching government was 
missing; and as Mr. Gilbar was so wrapped up in his im- 
mense financial enterprises, Maud had grown up as she 
willed. 

Conversation very soon dragged. There were only two 
thoughts in the minds of these three people : love and 
Don, and as they seemed to hesitate about entering upon 
these two topics, the situation grew sadly embarrassing. 

Maud made abortive efforts to be humorous, but failed 
so ignominiously that Jack pitied her, and aware that 
Maud was keenly cognizant of her being wanting in wit, 
on this occasion did not insult her by even feigning 
laughter. 

Finally Mrs. Gilbar brought from the depths of her not 
overly imaginative mind the sage suggestion that Dr. 
Lykin must be weary from so long a journey as he had 
made, ignoring the fact that he had devoted as much time 
as possible a few moments before in explaining the present 
great ease and comfort in traveling ; and that after resting 
about all day, as he had, he felt none the worse for his trip. 
But like a drowning man he jumped at Mrs. Gilbar’s kindly 
straw of an excuse for getting to himself and alone with 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


51 


his thoughts; and upon his solemn promise that he would 
“ make himself at home/’ he was shown to the apartments 
prepared for him. 

Dropping into a big easy-chair, he stared blankly out 
of the window, oblivious of the passing crowd, while he 
thought of his darling. W ould she ever love him ? Should 
he lay a regular siege to her heart ? There was no impor- 
tance to be attached to that thoughtless kiss, he argued ; 
she gave him that because her memory and great love for 
Don overcame her, and how nearly he had lost all control 
of himself as he was on the point of asking her if she at 
last loved him. 

And so he communed with his soul, which like a buoy 
now floated on the top of a big white capped wave of hope, 
as the bright sun broke through the parting clouds, reflect- 
ing a sheen like silver with its dazzling splendor, then as 
suddenly disappearing, sank almost out of sight, as the 
ruthless wave sped on, to be followed by another, and an- 
other. To his mind’s eye he was progressing, as a buoy 
to the natural eye seems to move forward, but, as a matter 
of fact, when they warned him of the approach of the 
dinner hour, he was no nearer the goal of his life’s struggle 
than he had been months before. 

In truth, when Maud knew Jack had come, she forgot 
mother, father, Don, all, save that there stood Jack, until 
the material effects of coming in contact with his lips of 
flesh and blood sent an electric shock through her veins, 
-that brought her to a consciousness of how she might be 
laying bare the inmost recesses of her heart. 

The dinner hour and the evening passed away rapidly. 
Mr. Gilbar remained at home — an unusual thing for him 
— and Jack told them over again all about Don and the 
fearful storm, his modulating voice causing the hush of 


52 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


death to pervade the spacious room, so intent was his little 
audience of assembled listeners. Mr. Gilbar explained 
that he should have gon_e West himself, but he knew all 
had been done that could be done, and in his heart he felt 
that, having sent on money lavishly, he had fulfilled his 
duty as a father. 

After this evening, Jack spent a very pleasant week 
looking up his old acquaintances, all of whom urged him 
to resume his professional work. Maud was uniformly 
sweet and winning. They had many a tilt of words, as of 
old, both entering into the spirit and humor of their ready 
wit, but Jack was impatient. He had interests in the West 
that would soon be calling him home. His nature was 
aggressive and it fretted him to be masking his affections. 
There was no use trying ; he could not be in Maud’s com- 
pany longer and not once more tell her he loved her. Being 
alone with her one morning, leaning over her chair, watch- 
ing her fairy hands essaying to do some “ drawn work,” 
he abruptly changed some unimportant conversation with : 

Maud, I must be going home in a few days, and — well I 
am loving you harder than ever. I must offer you some 
amusement by telling you that my love grows stronger as 
the moments go by. If I should live forever, and the 
power of my tongue be multiplied as the sands of the sea, 
it would be paralyzed long before I could tell you half of 
my love. Now, darling, won’t you try in some way to 
love me.^ Speak to me. Say something.” 

Poor little Maud was so happy she could hardly speak, 
for although she had felt sure it would all come out soon, 
after all. Jack had been sudden at last and for the moment 
had taken her unawares. But not for long was the young 
lady abashed ; her lovely head sinking just a little, she 
turned and said rapidly: 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


S3 


‘‘ Well, Jack, you must be blind that you could not see 
how much I love you, and I think you have been real mean 
to wait almost two weeks before giving me a chance to say 
so. I loved you always, only I didn’t know it until you 
set me thinking that night you went away so huffy, just 
because I laughed a little. But,” throwing her head back 
into his arms, “ I would rather be dead, if you wouldn’t 
love me, dear old Jack.” 

And then, after dividing the honors of kissing each other 
with Jack, she began teasing him unmercifully ; but he 
took it all in good part. They were both so happy that it 
mattered little what either said or did. She coaxed him 
to remain in New York, but he must return soon to the 
West. However, he promised to close out his interests 
there as quickly as possible, and return to his calling with 
renewed interest and vigor, vowing to some day make of 
himself the great man Maud thought him. . 

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbar gave a most willing consent to 
the engagement of their daughter to Dr. Lykin, as they 
were very fond of Jack, in their way, and there was no 
doubt but that he had a great future before him and would 
be an honorable acquisition to the family. 

One day Jack had consented, in a moment of rashness, 
to escort Maud on a shopping expedition. He was in a 
frame of mind when Maud extorted this promise from him 
to consent to almost anything. It had been a great load 
on his mind ever since the fatal day upon which Maud 
had taken advantage of his weakness. However, when 
the day selected for the excursion came, the fates proved 
good to poor Jack for, much to his secret delight, the rain 
came down in fitful sheets. 

About the time they expected starting. Jack sauntered 
into the room, where he found Maud be*ating a tattoo on 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


54 

the window-pane, the sombre clouds reflecting their gloom 
upon her disappointed countenance. 

“ Well, Maud,’’ questioned Jack with not an uncheerful 
voice, do you think you can weather the storm, from here 

to s ? ” placing his arm lightly about her waist, as he 

drew near her at the window. 

“ I can storm at the weather,” retorted Maud, spitefully. 
“You are just as hateful as you can be to-day,” she con- 
tinued ; “ you are positively glad that it is raining, just so 
I can’t go out ; I do not believe you love me one bit. 
Why, I never saw you look so happy, and all because you 
see I am so disappointed.” 

“Of course I got up this rain on purpose,” replied Jack. 
“ You know I have full control and charge of the weather 
and I go about the world seeking little girls who wish to 
go out on certain days, and then I rain on them on that 
day ; and if 1 am unfortunate enough to be in their com- 
pany, I don’t look miserable, as I should, but I seem to be 
positively happy.” 

“What does make you so exasperating, Jack?” inter- 
rupted Maud. “ When you know that I have all that I can 
bear, you stand here poking fun at me.” 

“You are indeed a very much-abused young lady,” 
continued Jack, not weakening one bit, “ with the great 
burden placed upon your young and tender shoulders 
this miserable day by me, great ogre that I evidently am, 
from your standpoint.” 

“ There is nothing very pointed about my standing,” 
this from Maud, as she smiled a little up at Jack ; and 
the bright sunshine in Jack’s laughing eyes, catching the 
colors of this little smile, made a short rainbow of 
promise that the storm inside at least, if it might so be 
called, would soon be over. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


55 


‘‘ The whole cause,” went on Jack, of your discomfiture 
is that I do nothing but afflict you with my presence and, 
what is even worse, am so discourteous as to agree with 
you. There is not a particle of justice, in fact it is a 
downright shame, that as there are only three hundred 
and sixty-five days in this year, one of them must be a 
rainy day.” 

“ Have you not a bit of pity, dear ? ” asked Maud, 
leaning her supple little weight on his strong arm. “ I do 
not think I am so foolish and inconsistent as you would 
make me out ; only I am disappointed and provoked that 
it had to rain this day, of all other days.” 

Just then a carriage stopped before the house, and a 
lady, while not so old yet of uncertain age, alighted and 
tripped playfully up the few steps from the curb to the 
door, in a manner that was very amusing to those who 
knew her as an aspirant to the dignity of an administrator 
of justice, for she was, or at least claimed to be, reading 
law, and the world stood ready at any moment to be 
apprised of the fact that she had been a:dmitted to the Bar. 

“ Well, if there isn’t Miss Warmsley ! ” exclaimed 
Maud, “coming here to-day in all this rain ; but as she is 
tough and weather-beaten, the rain will not hurt her much. 
Jack, that woman is dead in love with you. Only a short 
time ago she thought me too insignificant for her notice, 
and flecked me from her brilliant intellect as she would a 
mote of dust ; but since I have found favor in Dr. Lykin’s 
eyes and am deemed worthy of a thought from the fathom- 
less depths of his discerning brain, I am much sought 
after by the great LL.B, LL.D, L.C.J. that is to be. 
She offers you her heart, which is a kind of Legal 
Tender.’’ 

At all this Jack smiled audibly and replied that he 


56 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


would hardly consider the vivacious Miss Warmsley’s 
heart as value received, even should she offer it in 
exchange for his ; and then upon the entrance of old 
George, with the lady’s card. Jack excused Maud, remark- 
ing that it was fortunate Miss Warinsley called at a time 
of the day when he would not be expected to be about; 
and should she have seen him at the window and offer 
any of her plausible excuses for the necessity of seeing 
him ‘Mor just a minute,” Maud was to say that he was 
indisposed. 

“ I can’t tell an untruth,” returned Maud, and you 
know you are not a bit sick to-day ; besides, ‘ this case 
of Arthur White’s, whose big toe was crushed under his 
grandmother’s rocker, is so interesting,’ ” anticipating 
what the embryo limb of the law would say. 

It is no falsehood,” said Jack, “ that I am asking you 
to tell ; I do not claim to be unwell, but you may be very 
sure that I am not disposed to waste anytime with the 
talented young lady waiting below. So take her this kiss, 
with my compliments, and come back to me as quickly as 
the exigency of the occasion will permit.” 

Maud took the kiss but immediately returned it, saying 
she would not take his kisses to anyone, as she reluctantly 
left him for much less congenial company. 

These happy hours for Jack and his inamorata were 
interspersed with those of hard work, as Jack was very 
busy arranging his affairs so that he might return West, 
preparatory to closing out all his interests there, when he 
expected to come back and enter upon the large practice 
that was waiting for his acceptance. Nothing very definite 
had been decided upon as to when Jack and Maud would 
be married, but it was tacitly understood that the wedding 
would take place some time the following Autumn. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


57 


The middle of June found Jack again on the platform 
of the pretty little station at Pleasantville. He had bade 
Maud an affectionate adieu, promising to come back to 
her very soon and after that never to leave her for ‘‘ a 
second.” 

This extraordinary pledge was of Maud’s framing and 
extorted from Jack in the vain hope that it would keep 
the tears out of her black eyes and thus make the parting 
at least a little easier for them both. Jack had previously 
written home of his engagement, with a full and highly 
colored description of his fiancee, so that Jim, who met 
him at the depot, accosted him with : 

How are you. Jack, I’m mighty glad to see you, old 
man. How’s your girl ? ” 

“She was very well,” replied Jack, “ when I left ; sent 
her love to you all and you especially, Jimmie. I have 
told her so much about you and she seems quite anxious 
to see you. I am sure you will love her very dearly as 
she is peculiarly your style ; besides, every one is fond 
of her who knows her.” 

“ Oh ! well, say. Jack, don’t get started on your rhap- 
sodies ; I’d take with a big grain of allowance everything 
you would tell me. At the ^same time, I do not dis- 
approve of the match nor mean to oppose it in any way. 
You have my consent and best wishes, only it is lucky for 
you that she didn’t meet me first.” Jim said all this with 
a very important air and a twinkle of humor in his eye, 
and then added, “ But come on, let’s hurry and get in the 
buggy so as to get home some time. I have got all of 
my chores to do yet to-night.” 


58 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


CHAPTER V. 

Jim took much pleasure in putting his spanking team 
through their best paces, for Jack’s benefit, having a 
three-year-old colt hitched by the side of the famous 
Ben ; and as both were good steppers, they reached the 
old farm almost before they knew it. 

x\fter a hearty supper. Jack talked for a time with his 
father on business matters ; entertained the family in 
general with incidents that had happened during his 
sojourn in the city, and then, by the side of the good old 
mother, he talked until bedtime on a theme of which he 
could never tire, his deep, impressive voice sinking lower 
in its earnestness, as he told of his great love for the little 
witch who had won his heart ; trying to anticipate any 
eccentricities of which Maud might be possessed and 
which his mother might not understand, when the time 
came for her to know the sprightly young lady, unless 
forewarned. 

“You love her, my dear boy,” said his mother, “so I 
know I shall understand and love her too.” 

They all retired early, as was their custom, and Jack, 
being tired from his journey, fell asleep almost as soon as 
his head touched the pillow. A little after daybreak, he 
was awakened from a most refreshing slumber, and after 
a hasty toilet he came down to breakfast, to find the re- 
mainder of the family about finished. 

“These city chaps want to sleep all day,” began Jim, 
“ why I have been ” 


PROPEkTY OP DON GILBAR, 59 

^‘Oh, I know all about interrupted Jack good- 
naturedly, “ you have been up for hours, Jimmie, and 
have done a day^s work while your lazy brother was 
snoozing in bed ; but please be good-hearted enough to 
spare me, and while I sit and hide my face in shame and 
mother’s cup of smoking coffee, get my horse ready, so I 
can start for the prairies as soon as I swallow a few 
mouthfuls.” 

“Your horse will be ready before you are,” returned 
Jim. “ I saddled her before breakfast, knowing you 
would be in a stew and would want to make up for time 
lost in slumber, so there is nothing to do but to put the 
bits in her mouth ; in fact, there is Mike leading her up to 
the door now. ” 

Jack’s “mouthfuls” proved to be a hearty breakfast, 
such as the generous appetite of a healthy young man de- 
manded, superinduced by the fresh country air and the 
tempting viands set before him ; but he finished after a 
time and, lighting a cigar, mounted his horse, a beautiful 
bay mare, which Jack had broken to the saddle himself, 
for his own especial use. 

His course lay first into the town of Pleasantville. 
Jack enjoyed to the fullest every breath of air he drew 
into his lungs, ladened with the sweet perfume of the 
fruit trees, breaking into full bloom, and the tiny flowers 
along the roadside, freshened and sparkling under the 
morning dew. 

The little city was all astir by the time Jack reached it, 
and he having some matters to attend to there, at once 
set to work ; but although using as much expedition as 
was practicable, the sun was well up in the heavens by 
the time he again started on his way towards his brother 
Stephen’s farm. The day was lovely and, although the 


6o 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR, 


sun was beginning to have considerable force, the first 
miles of his journey were through the woods, where the 
friendly boughs sheltered him from its rays, and then, too, 
his thoughts were so wholly occupied that he took little 
count of the day being warm or cold. And thus pressing 
forward, keeping his horse on a steady fox trot, he almost 
rode down a man who was trudging along the road before 
him, and who, hearing the near approach of Jack’s horse’s 
hoofs, turned and accosted him with : — 

“Good-morning, sir; you are rather a careless rider, 
or possibly think a pedestrian has no rights that his more 
fortunate fellows on horseback are bound to respect.” 
And then he began to interrogate, “ Can you tell me if I 

am on the right road to ” by now, having come close 

to Jack’s stirrup, and looking him full in the face : “ My 
God, Jack, is this you ? ” at the same time attempting to 
grasp his hand at which Jack touched his horse lightly 
with his heel, and sheered off. 

Jack had had an extensive experience, both on the 
frontier and in the large cities, and this experience had 
taught him not to be taken unawares. This tramp might 
wish to rob him at least of his horse, and, as he had 
started out with the intention of riding, he did not pro- 
pose to change his plans and walk, giving the other fellow 
the benefit of his mount. 

It was a very seedy looking individual who had stopped 
him ; long, straggling hair, unkempt beard, nondescript 
clothes; the coat, though much worn and threadbare, of 
the finest texture; his lower limbs incased in leather 
breeches, decorated in the most marvelous manner with 
brilliant dyes, beads, and delicate lacing, although these, 
too, showed signs of hard wear. The shirt — if such it 
could be called — seemed more an undermantle of scarlet 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 6i 

cloth, apparently barren of sleeves. Moccasins were on 
his feet ; his head surmounted by a coonskin cap, to 
which the defunct coon's head, with its sharp nose, glassy 
eyes and little ears, was still appended, as was its tail, 
which hung far down the man’s back. 

This man has seen better days,” was Jack’s first 
thought, and then — “ Have I ever known him ? Some- 
thing tells me that I have ; there is something familiar 
about this object, but I can’t place him with certainty. 
He seems to know me, but may have heard my name in 
the town last night or this morning. These fellows for- 
get that calling a man by his name and claiming old 
acquaintanceship is no new game ; still I will find out 
what he wants and give him some good advice, if nothing 
more.” 

So, taking a steady hold on his bridle rein and seating 
himself firmly in the saddle, as he thought that one can- 
not tell about these desperate fellows and it would be 
best to be prepared for any sudden emergency, he said : 

‘‘ Well, my good man, this is certainly myself ; but if you 
wish a favor, your familiarity does not augur well for its 
being granted. Why do you not go to work? You seem 
strong, and work is plenty. Then, too, I doubt if you 
would find it as laborious as tramping over the country. 
Come, now, what do you say, shall I find you steady 
employment ? ” 

There was much surprise depicted in the man’s coun- - 
tenance when Jack first drew away from him, which gave 
way in a moment to a look of intelligence, as though 
some swift-passing thought had given an explanation to 
the tramp’s brain. As Jack delivered his wholesome 
advice, a close observer could have discerned a merry 
twinkle in the Bohemian’s eyes, and as Jack paused, the 


62 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


man, standing in his slouching attitude and with a rough 
voice, answered : 

‘‘ I want none of your chaff about work. What do you 
know about work, riding around on your fine horses, 
while we poor devils walk? You are just as able to work 
as I am, and I have a mind to pull you off in the road 
and take a ride myself.” 

“You are an insolent vagrant,” replied Jack, “ and my 
time is too valuable to waste with such as you ; so get 
out of my way or I will ride over you.” And suiting the 
action to the word, he spoke to his restless horse, who 
responded to the word with a bound. 

But quick as a flash, having anticipated Jack’s move- 
ments, the tramp sprang for the horse’s head and laid 
hold of the bridle rein with a grasp not to be shaken off 
lightly ; and as Jack raised his fist to strike, a tussle en- 
sued, which resulted in the rider being dragged to the 
ground. 

As he rolled in the dust, the tramp placed his foot 
lightly upon the vanquished man’s chest, commanding 
him in a serio-comic voice as he held his coonskin cap 
high in the air, to repeat : — 

“ Ransom or no ransom, I yield to Don Gilbar.” 

He then gently raised his recent antagonist who was 
for the moment speechless, as a flood of memories rushed 
through his brain, making him dumb with amazement. and 
unspeakable surprise. 

The voice, the expression, when associated with the 
pronouncing of Don Gilbar’s name, left no doubt in Jack’s 
mind as to who it was standing beside him ; but it 
seemed he could not collect his thoughts. This seedy 
looking individual was so entirely different from the 
polished gentleman he had mourned so sorrowfully as 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 63 

being dead ; and yet the man who had given such power- 
ful proofs of his strength a moment before was too mate- 
rial to be a ghost, — besides it was not the hour for ghosts, 
being nearer midday than midnight. 

It came to Jack in a confused way how he had lost his 
old friend Don, but to associate that Don with the one 
before him was very difficult. However, his ideas became 
clearer as Don grasped his hand and with his old familiar 
tone, asked : 

‘‘ Where are we, old man, anyhow ? Is there such a place 
as New York City ? Is this the great West ? I must con- 
fess so far everything has been much different from what 
I expected. I suppose you find me very much changed, 
but mirrors have not been plentiful in the hotel where I 
have been stopping, so I hardly know what I do look 
like. Yes, I can readily see how you did not know me 
and mistook me for a tramp. Ha ! ha ! ha ! That was 
pretty good, your advising me to go to work ; and your 
thinking toil and I must be strangers yet proved you to 
be a true judge of a man’s character. I had started out 
to look for you, but did not even hope to find you so soon. 
Come, Jack, tell me all that has been going on. I sup- 
pose you all thought me dead. Is everybody well ^ Get 
a start. Jack, and tell me something ; you have been stand- 
ing here like a fool, long enough. Do you yet doubt who 
I am, or are we so soon forgotten ? Come, come, man ; 
speak up.” 

Well, God bless me,” said Jack at last, “ can this be 
Don in the flesh ; Don, dear old Don, whom I never ex- 
pected to see in this world again ? Have I forgotten you ? 
No indeed ; not a day has passed over my head since we 
parted that I have not thought of you; and it is really 
Don ! ” seizing both his hands. 


64 PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 

‘‘ ril not ask you where you have been. It must be a 
long story, and now that 1 have you, I can wait to hear 
your tale. Mount your steed, Sir Champion : ‘ To the 
victor belong the spoils ; ’ and we will hie ourselves to 
some wayside inn and partake of something to strengthen 
the inner man, for I confess to feeling quite weak from 
the drubbing 1 received at your hands.’^ 

‘‘Now, Jack, that isn’t kind,” replied Don. “You 
know I was forced to use prompt and vigorous measures, 
else you would have escaped me. The last time, if my 
memory does not play me false, you left me rather uncere- 
moniously, putting your blooded horses to their utmost 
speed; and I have such a great regard for you that I this 
time determined to keep you, if I had to do it by main 
force.” 

“ Well, a truce to banter,” laughed Jack, “ let us be off. 
It is only a few miles to Zack Gibbons’s hotel, where we 
can obtain what we need in the way of something to eat 
and to drink, another horse and some clothes which will 
enable you to present a somewhat more civilized appear- 
ance than, I must suggest, you do in your present artistic 
costume. So come, jump on the horse, and let us be off.” 

“Your counsel is always best,” replied Don, “so we 
won’t argue ; and as we will make no better time by only 
one of us riding, suppose we both walk.” 

“ So be it,” agreed Jack, and going a few yards to the 
side of the road where his well trained mare had 'stood 
patiently waiting while they had been talking, and throw- 
ing the bridle rein oVer his arm, led her as they walked 
toward the inn in the midst of the forest. 

Their earnest conversation made the distance unnotice- 
able ; and as they entered the clearing in which the inn 
stood, the hour it had taken to walk it seemed but a few 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 65 

minutes. Their appearance was the signal for a drawing 
closer together of the few loungers who are always to be 
found, more or less, about country inns. Of course Jack 
was known to most of them, and they were used to seeing 
all manner of rough characters, arrayed in any description 
of habiliment that taste might dictate or circumstances 
make necessary. So there was no great surprise evinced, 
as the two travelers stopped before the house ; only the 
natural interest and satisfaction attendant upon any 
incident that might break the monotony of their usual 
uneventful existence. 

“ How are you boys ? ” accosted Jack. “ Good-morn- 
ing, friend Gibbons. Come, get a move on you. Let us 
have some of that famous apple-jack you are always 
boasting about, and then get us up as good a meal as 
you know how, for we are hungry as wolves.” He tossed 
his bridle rein to an overgrown youth, telling the boy to 
‘‘ take good care of Dolly.” 

Then drawing old Zack to one side, he explained to 
him that he wanted a good horse for his companion to 
ride and a suit of clothes for him that would at least 
make him more comfortable than fur caps and leather 
breeches in the heat that was increasing to that of summer, 
as the sun rose to the meridian, and at the same time 
would look a little more genteel, if not quite so pict- 
uresque. 

Upon the accommodating landlord’s assurance that 
Jack could have anything he wanted, his requests, so far, 
being very easy to comply with, he turned to the little 
group standing about, which had been enlarged by the 
arrival of quite a number, as the dinner hour approached. 

“ Men,” said Jack, “ some of you engaged with me in a 
hard, perilous task some months ago, and I believe all of 
5 


66 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


you have heard of the man that was lost in our great snow- 
storm last winter. We have all mourned him as dead 
and brought forward our wisdom and experience as fron- 
tiersmen for additional proofs that no man, unaccustomed 
to our rough life, could live exposed to such a storm. 
But he does live and stands before you now, in the enjoy- 
ment of health and the full exercise of his mind and rea- 
son, but not in appearance the polished gentleman I once 
knew and described so often to you ; but the same true 
heart beats in his breast and he wishes to thank those of 
you who so faithfully endured hardships in the long quest 
that was made for him. My best friend, boys, Don Gil- 
bar. He is made of the right stuff. Give him a welcome 
among us for my sake, until you know him better, when 
you will be proud to call him one of us for his own sake.” 

These men were much too stolid to show surprise at 
Jack’s statement. They crowded closer and plied young 
Gilbar with questions as to how he had escaped the 
rigors of that awful night, and where he had secluded him- 
self all the time that had intervened. 

“ Who is your tailor ? ” 

‘‘ What will you take for the coon ? ” the wits inquired. 

But this all came as a matter of respectful interest in a 
friend of one so popular as the young doctor. But Don 
was very reticent in regard to his immediate past. He 
replied in a joking tone to all they said, claimed he was 
too hungry to talk and escaped at the earliest possible 
moment to make the change in his dress and partake of 
the wholesome food set out by the host for their enter- 
tainment ; after which he and Jack at once started on 
their journey to Stephen’s farm. 

Mounted on two hardy roadsters they jogged along, as 
Jack demanded : 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


67 


“ Now, old man, start in and tell me all about it. Where 
in the world have you been ? How did you ever live 
through that awful night ? Who sheltered you, and why 
have we sought you in vain ? I have restrained my im- 
patience and given you all the news since your disappear- 
ance. You know that all those you love are well. So 
far as my modesty would permit, you have been informed 
of my prospects and great joy at winning Maud. You 
look a little like your old self, in those Sunday clothes of 
old Zack’s and shorn of your Samsonian locks. Ha ! ha ! 
ha ! you did look tough when I met you this morning. 
Gad, I am sore yet from that tussle ; but come, you talk 
now ; I am all ears.” 

Don smiled, as he replied, “Jack, I haven^t one word 
to tell you now. My adventure has been so strange, so 
weird, that should I tell you what is in my mind, you 
would not believe it upon my testimony unsupported by 
other proofs. Now I am with you and my past life re- 
turns to me with vivid realization. It seems I must have 
been dreaming. Should I say now where I have been, I 
would swear it was not on earth — it was nearer heaven, 
only there can be no devils in heaven, and I have seen 
devils. 

“ But hold ! I must think,” cried Don, as his voice grew 
more and more excited. “ Don’t ask me anything. Jack; 
you shall know all some day. I have struggled for days 
and months — I know not how long — to escape; and yet 
soon — to-morrow, next week, whenever I have finished 
certain preparations — I must, if I can, return whence I 
came. Talk of something else, my more than friend,” he 
concluded, as he rode close to Jack and touched his hand 
lightly. 

The young doctor gazed at Don in utter amazement. 


68 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


He was physician enough to see how his friend’s mind 
was affected and quickly decided not to excite Don fur- 
ther just then, so deftly turning the conversation into 
other channels, they rode rapidly on, and by the time they 
reached their destination, young Gilbar was in his happi- 
est frame of mind. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


69 


CHAPTER VI. 

When Don realized on that stormy Winter night, that 
he had been left behind in the then trackless forest, his 
first thoughts were that the old Squire and Jack would 
soon succeed in gaining control of the runaway team and 
would of course return for him. Guided by the sound the 
swift-running horses made crashing through the under- 
growth, he attempted to follow on, in the direction taken 
by the frightened steeds; this, with the view of gaining 
a little time, as well as keeping his blood in circula- 
tion. 

Soon, however, all other noises were swallowed up by 
the howling storm, and as any imprint that may have been 
made by the horses and sleigh was almost instantly oblit- 
erated by the fast falling snow, he was soon groping his 
way in an aimless fashion. His hardy constitution and 
sinewy limbs enabled him to press forward more rapidly 
and for a much longer time than would have been possi- 
ble for a less favored man. 

After a time, the growth of timber became thicker about 
him, and his progress was even more difficult. He was 
being chilled to the bone, in spite of his exertions ; then 
for a time he suffered terribly with the cold, after which a 
drowsy feeling began to steal over his senses; he hardly 
knew that it was storming; the howling wind appeared to 
be fnr away ; his eyes and frosted cheeks were impervious 
to the snow that beat upon them. 


70 


PROPERTY OF DON GlLBAR. 


Dimly sighting a short distance ahead some overhang- 
ing rocks along the stream, which had frozen, he stumbled 
forward in a dreamy way. His mind, enfeebled by the 
bitter cold which had frozen him almost stiff, imagined 
the rocks to be his home in the city, so far away, but still 
remained active enough to make him feel that if he could 
gain this shelter, he would ask for nothing but to reach 
his soft pillow and enjoy the sweet slumber that was 
swiftly overtaking him. 

Thus he urged his faltering steps a few paces further 
on, but before he could compass the full distance he sank 
insensible in the snow. 

As young Gilbar approached the overhanging rocks, he 
was being closely watched by two men, concealed in the 
shadow. He would hardly have taken notice of them, in 
the condition he was in, if they had stood directly in his 
path ; but this they could not know, although they judged 
him as being bereft of his full senses, when they first 
observed his coming. 

They were men whom crime had made suspicious, and 
as they were retreating from the fierce storm to their 
secret haunts, they were intending to conceal themselves 
from sight until Don should pass ; but as he fell senseless 
in the snow, they came instantly to him. 

“What have we here.^’^ said the older and more vil- 
lainous-looking of the two. “ Damme, if he ain’t a slick 
one, to be perambulating about the timber alone ; not 
much of a night for a walk, either ; eh, Davie ? ” 

“Well, you size him up about right as to style,” re- 
plied the man addressed as Davie, noticing Don’s rich 
clothing and handsome fur outer garment. 

“ What will we do with him ? ” asked the man who had 
spoken first. “ Shall we strip him ? he is frozen now about 


PJWPER PY OF DON GILBAR. 7 i 

as stiff as you generally get them, so he don’t need his 
trappings as bad as we do.” 

“ Oh, say, pard, I wouldn’t hardly do that ; the man’s 
not dead yet ; I say we give him a good rubbing and take 
him to the cave. He’s got rich friends, you can bet ; 
and it won’t be many days before they will be offering a 
pile for the young buck, and you'll see he’ll be worth a 
heap more to us alive than the few skins he’s got on will 
bring. Come, get to work here with me and let’s get him 
away for safe-keeping ; this will lead to the best find we’ve 
made yet.” 

“That isn’t such a bad idea, Davie,” replied his com- 
panion. “ You’ve got a great head on you. With your 
thinking and my backing, we ought to make a big stake, 
some day, and this may be the opening to our way to 
fortune. So come ahead, we’ll get the cove under cover 
and if there is any life left in him, we’ll make it show up.” 

With this they raised Don roughly to their shoulders 
and bore him around and a few yards beyond the rocks ; 
then pausing, they dropped him in the snow, as they 
would a bundle of skins. 

“ Don’t seem to be anybody at home, does there, pard ? ” 
said Davie, as he peered into a dense thicket composed 
of brush, young saplings and thick undergrowth, all of 
which had accumulated and grown about some old stumps 
and fallen trees. 

“ Guess there’s nobody at home when we are out,” 
replied the other fellow, with a guttural laugh. 

Then they began parting the brush, and upon reaching 
the heart of the little thicket, they, by their united efforts, 
turned aside a huge stump, disclosing a hole of sufficient 
size to admit the passage of a large body and which 
seemed to run obliquely into the bowels of the earth. 


72 


PROFEKTY OF DON GILBAR. 


Then moving quickly, they brought Don to the mouth ol 
the aperture, and while the stronger of the two men 
dragged him down through the opening, the other 
remained a moment behind until he could replace the 
stump which fitted closely to the ground. 

Knowing that the snow would fall for some hours, at 
least, and completely obliterate any tracks or signs they 
might leave that would lead to their hiding-place being 
discovered, they omitted their usual precaution when 
entering the cave. They crawled through a narrow 
passage, of some little length, drawing and pushing Don’s 
heavy body with them, until they entered a vault, or cave, 
of some considerable extent and size. 

Well, pard, here we are ; do you start up the fire and 
I will set to work bringing the young laddie to. He 
seems to be showing signs of life already,” for the rough 
handling they had given Don brought some color into his 
face, and after rubbing him vigorously with ice-cold water 
and pouring a little brandy down his throat, the poor 
fellow opened his eyes and, staring vacantly about him, 
began mumbling unintelligible words. 

Bill Skinner, the fellow addressed as pard by Davie, 
having started a bright, blazing fire, which roared and 
crackled as it awakened the echoes, its thin curling smoke 
ascending and disappearing in the cracks and crevices 
high above their heads, joined his companion and lent his 
aid to restoring their find. 

But their united efforts were only crowned with success 
in so far that Don tecovered from his stupor only to be 
seized by a violent fever. His powerful frame, tortured 
by intense pains, was almost more than the two men 
could manage in its violent struggles, until, exhausted by 
his terrible ravings, he sank into a troubled sleep. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


73 

David Wilkinson and Bill Skinner had led checkered 
lives, being conversant with every description of crime, in 
its most revolting details. Both had begun their school- 
ing in sin as members of a band of ‘‘Guerrillas,” where 
they learned to hold their own lives, as well as the lives 
of others, cheaply. 

The close of the war found them in Virginia, where 
they continued for a time to gain a livelihood by petty 
thieving, until, having been engaged in an extensive bank 
robbery, they were seized by the clutches of the law ; but, 
escaping before their term had expired, they had finally 
drifted West, where they were, while as yet unknown, 
regarded as suspicious characters. 

Bill, much the older of the two, had discovered the 
cave where we now find them by accident, while crossing 
the plains when quite a lad. Upon his return to this 
section, deciding to remain awhile, he had adopted it as 
a hiding-place and a shelter. Guarding the secret care- 
fully, he was perfectly right in his conjecture that their 
haunt was known only to his partner in crime and himself. 

It was especially adapted to their wants, being some 
distance from any usual line of travel and having two 
entrances, both of which it would be practically impos- 
sible to find unassisted. Here was abundant room to 
store their ill-gotten gains ; and should murder be neces- 
sary, or even more convenient to them in gaining their 
point, they could very easily secrete the body of their 
victim, with little or no fear of discovery. 

They had been planning for several days some new 
and desperate scheme, when the great storm caused them 
to wait for a short time. 

They had stores and provisions safely laid away in the 
cave for emergency, which they began to draw upon as 


74 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


they remained quietly in seclusion, until the snow would 
cease, giving untiring attention to their prisoner, exercis- 
ing their crude knowledge of physic in their endeavors to 
effect his recovery. 

On the third day after the snow had ceased, knowing 
that their captive could not escape, even were he possessed 
of all his faculties — which was far from being the case — 
they placed a small portion of food near him, together 
with drink, and sallied forth before daylight; leaving the 
cave in an entirely different direction and by a much 
larger opening, further down and directly upon the bank 
of the little creek ; and made as rapidly as possible for 
the town of Pleasantville. 

The rough traveling through the deep snow was too 
tedious to permit of their returning the same day, so they 
remained in the town over night and there learned, to 
their great delight, of the large reward that was offered 
for Don Gilbar^s discovery, chuckling to themselves as 
the searching parties returned discouraged from their vain 
hunt. 

They were so bold as to seek out young Doctor Lykin 
and obtain from him a minute description of the missing 
man, with the renewed promise of a munificent reward to 
be given to anyone who would bring back to him his poor 
friend, dead or alive. 

The two ruffians swore they were familiar with every 

foot of ground in S County and that they would find 

the missing party, if he was in the State. 

After hanging about the town the most of the forenoon, 
they started on their return to the cave, talking of and 
maturing their plans as they went. It would not do, these 
plotters thought, to produce Don too soon ; they must 
make some show of having hunted for him and concoct 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


75 

some tale as to where they found him and some plausible 
excuse for his condition. 

Not having used any especial expedition on their 
return, it had grown almost dark by the time they reached 
the vicinity of the mouth of the cave from which they had 
made their exit the morning of the preceding day, and 
upon their nearing the spot they were much chagrined to 
find a party of half-breed Indians and gypsy trappers 
encamped on the banks of the little stream, in a sheltered 
nook, directly above the entrance they had been expecting 
to use. 

They did not fear that their haunt would be discovered, 
as they had carefully covered their tracks when leaving 
the morning before, and the wind had effectually aided 
them by blowing and drifting the snow about, leaving not 
an unusual appearance anywhere along the banks of the 
little stream. And as the immediate entrance to the cave 
lay between two flat ledges of rock and was of several 
rods in width, hardly anyone would judge the aperture to 
be more than some fifteen or twenty feet in depth, and 
there was little danger of it being thought that there was 
anything in the nature of a cave in that locality ; besides, 
there were dozens of places in the rocks along the stream 
that were almost fac-similes of the spot they sought. 

But the presence of these strangers made it necessary 
for them to undertake a wide detour, so that they might 
gain an entrance unobserved, it now being simply out of 
the question for them to attempt such a thing at the 
point they first intended. 

So, without attracting any attention from the campers 
who were busy preparing for the night, they slunk away 
and began their weary tramp in moody silence, saving an 
occasional curse at their hard luck. 


76 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


They had made probably half of the distance when 
Bill Skinner, who was ahead, stopped suddenly, with : 

“ Damn it, Davie, what the h — 1 is that ? ’’ as some 
dark object brushed past him with a snarl. 

‘‘ It’s wolves, or I am a liar, ” exclaimed his companion, 
coming up close to Skinner. 

“ Good God, we are in a tight place ; just look at ’em, 
old man ; the brush is full of them 1 ” and indeed such 
was the case. 

It was a very unusual thing, of later years, for wolves 
to attack travelers in this locality ; still, in rare instances, 
where deep snows had deprived them for several days of 
sustenance, they had been rendered desperate enough, 
from hunger, to seize upon a human being for their 
prey. 

As it was quite dark, the two men had taken no notice 
of the approaching danger until one of the pack, bolder 
than his fellows, had dashed across Skinner’s track ; but 
now it seemed, almost in an instant, a seething mass of 
moving objects surrounded them, the circle growing per- 
ceptibly less each moment as the frightened men stood 
with blanched cheeks. 

An occasional growl and snap, making a sound like the 
clicking of a gun-lock, broke upon the stillness of the 
night and relieved the monotony of that ceaseless whirl. 
They could see hundreds of glassy eyes, shining like balls 
of fire, and almost feel the heated breath of the maddened 
brutes as they rushed madly about them. 

Well, this is a rum go ; ” suggested Davie, regaining 
his self-possession in the face of their great danger. 
‘‘What are we going to do anyhow, pard ? if we make a 
break for the trees, the crazy brutes will grab us before 
we have taken a dozen steps ; ’tain’t no use to shoot. We 


PROPERTY OF DOX G/LBAR. 


77 

couldn’t kill more than a dozen, with the best of luck, and 
that would make the hundreds left all the crazier. 

‘‘ If we only had some fire to throw at them, that would 
fix them, but we haven’t got a thing to make a spark. I’m 
stumped, old man. You say what to do, and be devilish 
quick about it, for if we hesitate long, they will be upon 
us.” 

“You and I have been in some pretty tight places,” 
responded his companion, “ and we always got out of 
them somehow, so I guess we’ll get out of this one, 
although it looks like we’ll have to roost in the trees 
all night, like a couple of turkey-cocks, and we won’t 
have any feathers to keep our ugly legs from freezing, 
either. 

“ This is how we will work them : keep your back to 
mine ; and you see those maples ?” — pointing to a clump 
of trees, with low, wide-spreading branches, — “well, we 
must make for them ; not too fast nor too slow either, — 
just a steady, quick pace. When we get near enough. I’ll 
shoot; then you must jump for your life. If you grab a 
limb and draw yourself up quickly, you’re all right, so far, 
but I warn you make no mistake ; if you miss your hold 
the first time, you’re a goner. The panting devils will be 
at your throat, and drinking your black blood before you 
can have a second chance.” 

Acting upon this plan promptly, the two men began at 
once to move towards the only trees that were near them 
with branches low enough for them to make a swift ascent. 

At first, the hungry wolves, with their red tongues hang- 
ing far out from between their distended jaws, their white 
teeth gleaming in the darkness, swerved perceptibly ; and 
again drew even closer to their intended victims. How- 
ever, their natural cowardice delayed the attack uiitil the 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


78 

sharp report of a pistol rang out upon the night air, the 
men having reached their desired haven. 

Skinner’s cunning gained for him a slight advantage 
over the other man, as he was facing the trees and pre- 
pared to spring the moment he gave the signal, while the 
man called Davie must turn and in doing so hesitate a 
moment before selecting his objective point and making 
the leap. 

The wolves were upon them at the moment they gained 
the foot of the maple and, as the slighter of the two men 
grasped a low branch just above his head, as he turned, 
one of them buried his fangs deep in the poor man’s 
thigh. 

With desperation, crying out with pain, Davie drag- 
ged himself up into the tree, his exertion breaking loose 
the hold of the vicious brute that had seized him ; but the 
powerful jaws carried with them, in their vice-like grip, a 
long strip of flesh, the blood flowing profusely from the 
wound. 

Although almost fainting, smarting from the first 
intense pain, he had no sooner gained a position in the 
tree than he shouted to his companion, endeavoring to 
make himself heard above the snarling of the wild brutes 
as they fought, crazed by the smell and taste of blood. 

But no answer came back to him, for Skinner in his 
haste had jumped at a dead and withered branch, which 
broke under his weight and precipitated him helpless upon 
the ground. In an instant the famished beasts were 
upon him, tearing hi§ limbs and flesh, and without a cry 
he was rendered a shapeless mass. In a moment more, 
his bones, stripped of every particle of flesh, were all that 
was left of what almost an instant before had been a hale 
and hearty human being. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


79 


Davie, soon realizing in an indistinct way what had 
happened to his old ‘‘pard/^ remained in the tree through 
the long cheerless night, surrounded by the howling- 
wolves, who disappeared with the breaking of the dawn. 

Soon as he found it safe, he dropped to the ground, 
more dead than alive from loss of blood and inaction 
on such a cold night. Giving hardly a thought to the 
dead man who had been his only friend, he crept back to 
the trappers^ camp, with the hope of gaining aid to his 
recovery and among the lawless crowd he rightly judged 
the gypsies were composed of, to find a new partner in 
furthering his plans of crime. 

But the exertion proved too much for him, and by the 
time he reached the camp the ragged wound was bleed- 
ing afresh. He remained conscious long enough to tell 
of the incident of the night — how his friend met his 
death and the cause of his present ghastly condition, and 
then expired. 

The rough Bohemians gave little credit to his tale and, 
chopping a hole in the ice, forced the body into it, as 
being the easiest way of getting rid of a useless annoy- 
ance. The incident passed for a time entirely out of 
their minds, so used were they to death in all its phases. 


8o 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


CHAPTER VII. 

Don Gilbar’s lucky star ruled that he should not be 
left alone to suffer and die. 

Loving hands administered to his wants and fond, 
passionate eyes watched over him while he battled with 
a fever that was fierce while it lasted ; until finally he 
awoke, with his mind clear and his bright, quick intellect 
instantly on the alert, as a slight moisture dampened his 
brow. 

Most bewitchingly delightful emotions permeated his 
whole being, and he gave no thought to the whys and 
wherefores of his enchanting surroundings. The bracing 
aroma of burning pines filled his broad chest and deep 
lungs, as he drew in long draughts of scented air. 

His senses were soothed and at the same time ren- 
dered sensitively alive as there was wafted to his ears 
soft, low music, only a little short of heavenly, and not 
to be easily accredited to human instrumentality, while 
Don’s big shining eyes were fixed with a rapturous in- 
tensity upon a creature of such startling and exquisite 
beauty, heightened by the mysterious charms of the whole 
surroundings, that he taxed his awakening brain for some 
feasible clue or explanation of where he had been trans- 
ported. 

Some twenty yards distant reclining on a heap of skins, 
was a woman ; her contour simply divine. 

The face was not plainly visible ; one arm, strong but 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


8i 


molded with the most perfect symmetry, supported her 
head; the abundant wealth of thick golden hair, reaching 
to her feet in wavy masses, failed to conceal entirely the 
entrancing beauty of her undulating bosom ; delicately 
wrought sandals were bound upon her feet ; her robes 
were of the finest texture, lined with white fur and en- 
circled by a jeweled girdle, parted sufficiently to expose a 
limb of tempting grace. 

The shapely fingers of her disengaged hand touched 
lightly the strings of her lyre, as the echoes passed from 
niche to arc the melody of her sweet lullaby. 

Don gazed and wondered, not unconscious of the natural 
beauties of the vaulted chambers in which he found him- 
self. 

A bright fire blazed near him, making the only light; 
but this filled every space with a cheerful glow. He was 
fascinated and feared to move or make a sound, lest the 
whole scene should be dispelled as a dream. 

Soon, however, the music ceased and the fair musician 
turned and looked steadily at him without the slightest 
hesitation or embarrassment, and as she drew near, in- 
quired : 

“ Does the stranger want anything? May Minna bring 
meat, or drink to him ? ” 

Well, no,” replied Don, “ I am not needing anything 
just at present, excepting some information. Won’t you 
kindly tell me where I am and how I came here ? I am 
at a loss to understand what all this is about or to whom 
I am indebted for the pleasure of this meeting ? 

“ Pardon me ; won’t you sit down ? ” pointing to a flat 
rock at her side, ‘‘ I find I am unable to rise ” — this, as 
Don made an effort to stand up, from his couch of leaves 
and blankets. 

6 


82 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR, 


“ Come, please be seated and tell me who you are and 
at the same time it might not be amiss to tell me who 1 
am, for I do not believe 1 know one much better than I 
do the other.’’ 

“ I am Minna, that’s all I know ; as for you, I found 
you near here and have nursed you back to life. I know 
not who you are and no one knows you are here save 
Minna. 

‘‘ My life has been a burden, although every gift within 
the power of a gypsy has been lavished upon me ; yet 
they do not love me ; they fear me and I hate them. I 
have bided my time, feeding my heart on hatred, until I 
found you. Since then there has been something for me 
to live for. 

“ Here we will end our days ; Minna will provide for 
both. You are mine: I found you and gave you life, and 
will now soon restore you to the great strength and 
beauty that must have once been yours. You will be my 
pleasure, my life, my self.” 

Don was enraptured with the voluptuous beauty before 
him ; it was just such as would appeal to his manly dis- 
position. 

But with the deepest regret, he noted the unintelligible 
expression of the great, black-blue eyes that pierced him 
through and through with their latent fire. He loved her 
on the instant; his heart, that had for years lain dormant, 
irresponsive to the charms of the world’s fairest women, 
in a moment blazed into a love that was to grow, never 
flagging or dimming, during the vicissitudes of a long, 
eventful life. 

Yet he could see that she was to be feared. Was her 
mind at fault, or was it only an untamed, wild nature that 
controlled her actions ? Although helpless and weak 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 83 

Don, in remembering his past strength, did not fully real- 
ize his feebleness, as he replied : 

“ Well, Minna, since you claim that as your only name, 
I must thank you for your very complimentary suggestion 
that I have met with more favor in your eyes than those 
with whom you have been associated, but I think I will 
very soon be my old self again ; and, if we are anywhere 
in America, I must have friends who will love you, as I 
already do, and we — might — get along — in the world — 
with — out — your — providing — for me.” 

Don’s voice sank lower and lower, as his eyes closed, 
and he began a sweet, restful slumber. 

Some unknown influence pervaded the cave and seemed 
to do with him as it willed ; so that his speaking had been 
very little of what he wished to say. 

But his companion paid not the slightest heed to his 
last ramblings, apparently not hearing a Vord. As she 
noted his quiet breathing, a look of the purest, heavenly 
delight passed swiftly over her face. 

Then, parting the lips of the sleeping man with her 
careful fingers, she dropped some dark liquid between 
them, pressing a long fervent kiss upon his now cool 
brow, then nestled her cheek to his, while the masses of 
her wondrous hair, gathered away from her queenly head, 
lay bright and shining in the firelight upon the polished 
stone. 

Some fifteen years before the incidents just narrated, a 
little child had strayed from home and was picked up by 
a band of strolling gypsies in whose company there was 
one with sufficient of a mother’s instinct yet remaining, it 
seemed, to pity the helpless little flower, and who ap- 
parently gave little thought as to where it came from or 
how it happened to be alone in a thinly settled country. 


84 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


The child grew strong and hearty under the rough but 
wholesome treatment it received, until, at the age of eight, 
one day a brutal ruffian, in a fit of passion at some trivial 
piece of mischief, struck the little girl a blow upon her 
head, almost costing her her life. 

However, in time she entirely recovered physically, al- 
though mentally she was never the same. Keeping to 
herself, giving advice of merit far beyond her years, ef- 
fecting wonderful cures from the herbs and roots she 
seemed to discover by instinct, as tljose who were her 
only companions were at times laid low with sickness or 
wounds to which the whole human race is more or less 
subject ; predicting storms or fair weather, as the case 
might be ; prophesying,' with never-failing success, abun- 
dant crops, or seasons of want : — all this, coupled with 
her dazzling beauty as she grew and developed into 
womanhood, caused her to be regarded by the ever 
superstitious people about her with awe and reverence. 

They had been a successful band and lavished upon 
her the most extravagant of their, at times, ill-gotten 
booty. She could have ruled them as she willed ; but 
she took no interest in their coming or going, remaining 
as it were, apart and to herself ; accepting their rich gifts 
as her right ; at times, being absent from the camp for 
days as they journeyed into different sections of the great 
West. When she was away strife and quarreling and 
bloodshed ran riot ; but on her appearing among them 
again, her simple presence quelled their heated passions, 
and peace and quiet reigned supreme. 

They had traveled for months to gain the spot where 
we found them in a preceding chapter, as the fame of 
that locality had gone abroad as being a section rich for 
the trapper and hunter ; so they established their camp, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 85 

with the intention of remaining until the snow should dis- 
appear in the following Spring. 

On the day of their arrival, which was the evening of 
the day Bill Skinner and his companion started on the 
fated journey from Pleasantville to the cave, Minna had 
been attracted to the banks of the stream by the barking of 
a large wolf-hound, and instinctively peering far in between 
the rocks, she rightly judged that this might be the open- 
ing to a cave ; and although not thinking it of much ex- 
tent, thought it might afford her a shelter more suited to 
her tastes during the long Winter just before her when she 
would naturally be very much confined by the heavy snows 
and rough weather incident to a Winter in that climate. 

Putting her thoughts into action, she fearlessly sought 
her way through the intricate passages until she dis- 
covered Don, whom she nursed and cared for with the 
most loving tenderness. With her own strength she 
moved the helpless man, while yet unconscious, to a dryer 
and much more healthy chamber in the cave — for she 
had explored it in all directions, finding a succession of 
beautiful subterranean passages and vaulted caverns. With 
jealous care she guarded the secret of her discoveries ; and 
so directed her coming and going as to avoid suspicion. 

Being busy with their various pursuits, the gypsies took 
no notice of her absence ; so she spent several days and 
nights of almost ceaseless watching and care, until her 
efforts were rewarded by her charge awakening to con- 
sciousness and again passing off into a natural health- 
giving slumber. 

All Winter long she nursed him back to his accustomed 
health and strength. It was slow at first ; but as he be- 
came used to the diet and surroundings he gained more 
rapidly. 


86 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


Minna loved him as a lioness would her wounded mate. 
While he was feeble and dependent upon her for his every 
want, she was all tenderness, watchful, anticipating his 
slightest wish ; while, had he been possessed of his full 
might and graceful strength, she undoubtedly would have 
been imperious and contentious, from her over-ruling 
worship of him. 

By the use of a potent but harmless drug, she kept Don 
unconscious when it was necessary for her to be absent : 
so that as she was always with him during his waking 
moments, it added to the mysteries of the situation how 
she could provide for them as she did. 

In proportion as Don gained in vitality, he besought 
ber to come away with him. He told her of the beautiful 
city, of the wealth and pleasures with which he would sur- 
round her. 

You would be queen, darling, of them all,” he urged, 
“ with your grand and majestic beauty. You would reign 
without a rival in the whole world of fashion.” 

But the wild-fiower of the plains said : 

“ No. Minna would lose her sun if she should permit 
him to go from her sight, and then she would chill and 
die in the shadows of the high buildings of the great 
city.” 

Well, you do not expect me to end my days in this 
hole ; you pretend to love me, and I have repeatedly 
assured you that were I free you would be in no danger 
of losing me, as my infatuation for 3^011 would be greater 
than any other influence that could be brought to bear 
upon me.” 

But Minna was inflexible, and so the Winter passed. 

Don had lost all count of time, and the seasons, day 
and night, were one to him. He could not know whether 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 87 

it had been months or years that he had been imprisoned 
by this beautiful jailer in his sparkling cell. His strange 
companion permitted him to seek in all directions for some 
opening or place of egress ; but no opening could Don 
find, look as he would. 

As Spring approached, the gypsies began to plan for 
breaking camp and moving to new scenes. 

The winter had been profitable to them and they had an 
unusual amount of skins to barter and trade on, so soon 
as the weather permitted of their moving and they could 
reach a city of sufficient size in which to dispose of their 
plunder to the best advantage. Minna being apprised of 
their intentions in a number of ways, without expressing 
herself had fully decided they should depart without 
her. 

She came to this conclusion with very little regret. 
These people had been good to her, in a way, but there 
wasn’t the slightest particle of affection between them and 
her ; so that she could have left them at any time that her 
interests, no matter how slight, might call her in another 
direction. Hence, her heart and soul being rapt up in the 
object of her affection, their departure had very little 
weight with her. 

When the day for them to leave finally came, Minna 
thought, with a species of cunning, that she would start 
and remain with them for a few days and then swiftly 
return. Knowing their characteristics so well, she felt 
that when they once became interested in their new designs, 
they would have little care, nor trouble themselves upon 
her account. 

On the morning of the day on which Minna and the 
gypsies departed, Don awoke from a deep sleep — caused by 
the drug usually administered by Minna before leaving 


88 


PROPERTY OF DON C/LB A R. 


him — to find himself alone in the cave. It being the first 
time that such a thing had occurred, it caused Don more 
or less concern. He immediately arose from his impro- 
vised bed, and began to reconnoiter every part of his 
underground habitation. 

Disappointed in his search at not finding even a trace 
of her he would seek, he threw himself with a deep-drawn 
sigh upon the bed of soft skins, on which, reclining in a 
queenly attitude, he had first set eyes on Minna. 

He lay there for some time thinking over past events ; 
and the more he thought, the more he was brought to 
realize that he really loved this mysterious creature who 
had been his constant companion, through all these weeks 
or months, whichever it might be. 

Strange as it may seem, after all, he had been contented 
and happy so long as she had been with him, gaining his 
health and strength, although deprived of all luxuries with 
which his previous life had been surrounded. 

Where could his sprite be ? Was she something super- 
natural, that she could disappear through the face of the 
solid walls How had she ever come there Why was 
he there, and had she tired of him and left him to starve 
and die alone ? 

Growing more excited as these thoughts rushed through 
his mind, he began pulling about the magnificent skins 
impetuously, disclosing to his utter astonishment an 
opening under this elevated bed of rocks large enough to 
admit of a person passing through. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, he entered the aperture 
and pressing rapidly along a passage-way that widened 
as he proceeded, in a very short time emerged from his 
long captivity and found himself once more in the bright 
glare of God’s sunlight, with a stream as clear as crystal 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 89 

flowing at his feet, the pure air from heaven filling his 
lungs. 

Minna had provided him with an assorted suit of 
clothes which she had purloined, a garment at a time, from 
the trappers, as his need required ; so that, clad as he was, 
with his locks of long uneven length, he gazed at what 
seemed to him an apparition in nature’s mirror — the clear 
brook at his feet. 

He ejaculated, between bursts of hysterical laughter : 

‘‘ How do you do, young fellow ? Live about here any- 
where? You do not mean to palm yourself off as Don 
Gilbar, do you ? Come now, that’s good ! Ha ! ha ! 
ha!” 

And then turning and gazing about him through the 
forest at the freshening grass with here and there a lone 
little flower, that like himself was struggling for freedom 
from its long Winter’s captivity, he forgot all else, save his 
great joy at being free and once more upon the face of the 
earth. 

As these emotions of joy were coursing through his 
veins, with almost crazy delight, his attention was arrested 
by the sound of voices and the cracking of the dead twigs 
as they broke under the heavy tread of a little company of 
men, some on horses and some on foot, which soon came 
in sight. 

Upon discovering Don, they inquired : 

“ Is this the short cut to Silas Pemberton’s farm ? You 
look like a native, and we are not sure but we have lost 
our way.” 

‘‘ Well, now, gentlemen,” replied Don, if you don’t 
know the way to Mister-what’s-his-name’s farm better 
than I do, you don’t know much. I have only been here 
about ten minutes ; can’t say where I came from, do not 


90 


PROPERTY OF DON" GILBAR, 


know where I am and have no immediate plans as to 
where I am going.” 

“ Lost, are you ? ” 

“ Yes, and as I feel kind of lonesome, if it is agreeable 
to you, I would be pleased to join your party until you 
reach some settlement, at least.” 

He seems kind of queer in his head,” said the spokes- 
man of the little crowd to his nearest comrade; “ I don’t 
suppose we will get much information out of him.” 

“ But let the poor devil come long with us if he wants, 
and anyhow I am sure we’ll come to old Silas’s a little 
further up the creek ; we must push ahead or we shan’t 
make it by dark ; ” then turning and addressing Don, he 
continued : 

‘‘Come along, pard, if you have got stout limbs and are 
willing, perhaps we can make use of you ; you seem to be 
down on your luck, and are wanting a job, I take it.” 

So they started on, Don falling in their wake, giving 
little thought as to who or what they were, so long as he 
had some one to pilot him out of the wilderness. 

With more or less cursing and at times good-natured 
badinage, they pressed their way through the forest for 
several hours, until just before the sun was setting they 
came upon the edge of a well-kept farm, with its broad 
acres of pasture and miles of stake-and-rider rail fences. 

Hundreds of cattle were feeding upon the succulent 
grass, and in the near distance could be seen the barns 
and the snowy white house, with its green shutters and 
massive chimney, from which a thin spiral column of 
smoke was rising, suggesting to the by now wearied trav- 
elers that some supper was being prepared. 

Here they rested for the night and Don found he had 
fallen in with a party of cattle-men who made a business 


1 KO PE RTY OF DON C/LB A E. 


91 


of going about over the country purchasing cattle that 
were sufficiently fattened to be ready for the butcher’s 
block. 

It was their custom to go from farm to farm and buy 
in various numbers the cattle that had been fed on corn 
during the Winter, and as they procured sufficient to make 
a drove, the cattle would be taken to the nearest railroad 
station and shipped principally to Chicago. 

Don, fearing that his tale would not be credited and for 
other reasons, made no statement as to his past, but engaged 
to aid in driving cattle, intending to communicate with his 
friends at the earliest possible moment. 

The drovers knew of Squire Lykin and told Don that 
they were going to the old Squire’s, in a week or ten days, 
to buy some cattle ; and he, thinking that to be the 
quickest way to find Jack, decided to stay right with the 
drovers. 

But weeks passed and still they failed to arrive at the 
Squire’s place. As a matter of fact, they were journeying 
in an exactly opposite direction to that in which Don’s 
friends lived. 

The cattle-men were needing the assistance of a strong, 
able-bodied man, so they made excuse after excuse and 
promised that in a few days they would reach the old 
Squire’s, until Don finally came to the conclusion that 
they were deceiving him. 

Being assured of the fact by a farmer’s boy at one of 
their stopping places one night, he started to retrace his 
steps alone, inquiring as best he could from farm to farm 
in the thinly-settled country until the morning he unex- 
pectedly met Jack, he supposing when he started that 
morning on another day’s tramp, that he would have 
many weary miles yet to travel. 


92 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

“ Come, boys, stir yourselves,’’ called a manly voice, 
accompanying the words with a loud knocking at Don’s 
and Jack’s doors, the morning after they reached the 
prairie farm. 

They were both tired from the exertions of the preced- 
ing day, so Stephen Lykin’s voice and noise awoke them 
from a heavy sleep. 

Their rooms were communicating and the doors be- 
tween had been left open all night ; Don, who had been 
dreaming of the fair-haired goddess and his Winter home 
within the rocky cave, was several moments realizing the 
change, his mind rapidly running over the incidents of 
the past few weeks and the previous day, accounting for 
his comfortable bed and the spacious room. 

Meanwhile, Jack called to his brother : 

‘‘ Come in, Steve.” 

And as Stephen opened the door, accepting the invi- 
tation, Jack good-naturedly pretended to growl : 

“ What is all this noise about ? Can’t you let a man 
sleep? You don’t expect us to get up at this beastly 
hour, do you? Come, Steve, let’s argue the question 
awhile.” 

Jack’s brother knew this was a challenge to pull him 
out of bed, as he had so often done when they were 
boys ; and Stephen, nothing loath for a little sport, ac- 
cepted the banter ; whereupon a tussle ensued, making 


PROPERTY OF DON GFLEAR. 


93 


laughter and puffing, which finally ended in Jack’s 
being landed on the floor, dragging the bed-clothes with 
him, but not until the bedstead had been more or less 
demolished in the rough play of the strong men. 

During the fun Don had entered the room in dishabille 
and had watched the contest with rare zest. 

“.You are not much good. Jack, to let ‘ the old man ’ 
best you in that style. I wish I hadn’t gotten up, so 
Stephen could have undertaken something nearer his 
size, I have a notion to put him to bed and show him 
what a man can do.” 

With this, he made a rush at Stephen, who evaded 
Don’s grasp, by nimbly stepping aside, crying — 

“ No, no, boys ; stop your foolishness. We ought to 
be ashamed of ourselves, acting like a pack of school- 
children.” 

But the fun had been started, and Don was unwilling 
that he should not have a share in a thing so much in his 
line, so he said : 

“ See, Jack, he is afraid of me. Now, Steve, if you will 
walk right in the other room and get into my bed, with 
your boots on and all just as you are, we’ll let you off ; 
but if you won’t I’m going to put you there. I must 
have some revenge for your doing Jack up. Understand, 
I don’t stand around and see any one impose on Jack.” 

Stephen was a broad-shouldered, muscular fellow, with 
a black, twinkling eye ; and, although his full beard and 
hair were beginning to be sprinkled with gray, he had a 
young heart still, and besides was ever ready for anything 
in the line of sport and was not to be cowed even by so for- 
midable an opponent as the athletic young man who was 
daring him to the playful encounter. 

So the scuffle began anew, but this time Stephen found 


94 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


he had a more skilful opponent ; and but for his great 
strength, Stephen would have been very soon vanquished. 
As it was, before long Don landed him full length upon 
liis bed and after giving him two or three thumps with a 
pillow, exclaimed : 

‘‘ Now I have had my satisfaction ; so get out of here and 
let us dress ; it won’t take us long and we will be down 
in a jiffy.’* 

Stephen was laughing heartily, for he had enjoyed it 
all ; and, as he beat a hasty retreat, he promised the young 
men that he would send a regiment of farm hands to get 
them out of bed next time, he being no match for border 
ruffians. 

A moment later, Stephen’s strong voice was heard sing- 
ing, as he took long strides towards the barn : 

“ Were it not for the bat that you hold in your paw, 

I’d show you a game played from Erin-go-bragh.” 

Don and Jack dressed hastily and were in pretty fair 
time for breakfast. 

“ Tom Miller offers six cents for the cattle in the North 
lot. Jack,” began Stephen, “ and take them all. I think 
they will average very close to sixteen hundred pounds, 
and they are as smooth a lot as we ever fed out. What 
do you say — shall we let them go at that ? ” 

“You know better than I do, Steve,” replied Jack. 
“ We could make them net us the quarter, or even a half, 
if we shipped them ourselves, I believe, but of course we 
would have to take the risk. I believe I am willing to 
close out my share at six cents for the fat cattle and four 
cents for the grass stock ; and if you think best to hold 
for more money, why you can do so and pay me whenever 
you sell ; anyhow, let us weigh all the cattle to-day, and 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


95 

then we can judge better just what we are doing, and 
how we will come out/’ 

“ All right, Jack ; we will weigh up to-day and try to fix 
your part up in some way, for I know you want to get 
away as soon as you can. So while the rest of you finish 
your breakfast, I will get the boys together and get 
ready.” 

As Stephen started out, Jack turned to Don with : 

“ What do you want to do, Don 'I Will you watch us 
weigh up the cattle, which may not be very interesting to 
you, or will you try the fishing ? I can put you on the 
track of some good sport, I think, unless you feel lonely } 
What will it be, old man } You know you will have to 
entertain yourself somehow for a day or two, but the 
country is yours to roam over ; so choose for yourelf.” 

‘‘Don’t worry about me. Jack,” returned Don; “just 
you go ahead and never mind me. I’ll try the fishing 
to-day and decide more fully as to my plans by night.” 

And so how to put in the day was arranged. 

An hour after, the shouts of the men as they urged the fat 
sleek steers on to the scales could be heard by Don, while 
his long, rapid strides left the farm-house and substantial 
out-buildings in the background. His powerful limbs 
soon carried him over two miles, through corn-fields and 
meadows and acres of waving grain that would ere long 
be ripe for the harvest. 

So far he had, he felt sure, kept his course true toward 
the little river on the banks of which he expected to spend 
the day in trying to inveigle at least a few fish to his hook 
as proof of his skill, and in thinking out how he should 
return to the cave and in some way leave some sign that 
would make the queen of his heart know, should she 
ever return, that he loved her still and was waiting so 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


96 

longingly for the “ some day ’’ when he should once more 
fold her to his ardent embrace. 

But as he vaulted over a low hedge into a lane, the 
road diverged in two directions, so that he was at fault 
which to take. A few rods down the lane stood what 
seemed to be a blacksmith shop and the clear ring of the 
anvil, as though defying the sturdy blows being showered 
upon it, denoted that someone was at work therein ; at 
the same time a little maiden could be seen coming 
toward Don, leisurely swinging her big Gainsborough as 
the lazy breeze stirred her long, sun-kissed curls. 

She was a lovely child, but Don scarcely noticed that 
as he thought, in his practical way, to inquire of the little 
lady, or anyone else who knew, the road to Fisher’s 
meadows, as that was his destination. 

When Nellie Miller saw Don jump so lightly over the 
hedge into the road, she was at some little distance, but 
she regarded the feat with perfect wonder and amaze- 
ment ; for, while the farmer boys, — who were the only 
specimen of men she had so far seen, — were in many in- 
stances strong, robust fellows, none of them possessed 
the agility to go about over the country jumping hedges 
and fences at will. 

Then, as Don drew nearer, walking with such a self- 
satisfied swing and looking in all directions and as yet 
giving her but a casual glance, she quickly thought : 

“ He must be conceited ; ” and the imps of mischief 
that were always roaming about her brain set to work 
framing the plan : How can we give this ‘ Fine Gentle- 
man ’ a good scare ; ” when, as they were almost in front 
of the smith}^ coming from opposite directions. Miss 
Nellie spied a huge hound half asleep by the side of the 
door. 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


97 


Then, quick as a flash, her lips parted in an enlhusi- 
astrc smile, showing her pearly teeth and the big dimples 
in her cheeks, as, clapping her hands, she shouted : — 

“ Sic ! Sic ! Sic ! ’em.” 

But practical jokes often prove to be boomerangs, and 
in this instance Nellie's little fun came near proving very 
serious. 

The hound was a large powerful brute of a very surly 
temper, being a cross between a stag-hound and a large 
timber wolf. He was seldom let run at large, but this 
morning, owing to the carelessness of someone, the big 
fellow was loose and dozing before his master’s shop. 

Upon Nellie calling to him, he rose slowly to his feet 
without a note or growl of warning and, curling his ugly 
black lips and exposing a double row of ivory-like fangs, 
sprang at the girl, owing to the fact, no doubt, that it was 
she who had wakened him from his comfortable nap and 
roused his ugly temper. 

With two bounds the animal was upon her, but he over- 
leaped his mark, and instead of at first fastening his long 
teeth in her throat, he struck her with his broad chest, 
knocking the poor child flat in the road ; but turning his 
huge length almost instantly, with a savage snarl of in- 
creased rage, his distended jaws were at her throat, as 
she lay motionless with fear, or stunned by the fall. 

At the same instant Don was up with them, and grasp- 
ing the hound by his throat and neck he forced him away 
from the brute's intended victim, falling on one knee in 
the struggle. 

The infuriated beast, now thoroughly aroused, this 
time rushed at Don, but young Gilbar was perfectly cool, 
his every action governed by a steady brain ; and as the 
dog came at him with open mouth, he clutched his upper 
7 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


98 

and lower jaw with either hand, and exerting his strength 
to the utmost, parted them until they fairly cracked. 

With a howl of pain, the great brute rolled over in the 
dust ; Don had dislocated his jaws, thus rendering the 
dog harmless. 

Before letting go his hold, he administered a dozen 
resounding kicks with his heavy boots upon the hound’s 
sides and then left him, a shapeless mass in the road, 
covered with blood and dust, more dead than alive ; and 
then turning to the little girl, he coolly inquired : 

“ Are you hurt, child ? ’’ 

“ Oh, no, sir,” Nellie replied, as she arose from the 
road, where she had been watching the struggle, with big 
eyes from which the tears were still flowing. 

She had almost forgotten her fright in admiration of 
Don’s manful fight, but the excitement had caused the 
tears. 

“That is,” she added, “my hand hurts me a little 
where I guess you stepped on it ; but that’s nothing. 
And, goodness ! but you are strong and brave and so 
good ; because I meant the dog should frighten you, and 
yet you came and kept him from hurting me. Why 
didn’t you let him eat me up } It would have served me 
right.” 

“That’s so,” laughed Don, “only you are such a sweet, 
plump morsel, I thought I would like to eat you myself, 
so I drove the dog away. But let me look at your 
hand.” 

“ Did I do that ? ” Don continued, as he took the 
bruised little digits between his own handsome palms. 
“That was very awkward of me, I must say ; but I did 
not have time to choose my steps. Let us go in the 
shop and see if we can’t find some water and something 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


99 

to bind up the poor little wound ; does it pain you 
much ? ” 

“ Oh, that was nothing ; I think it was fun, only I was 
very much frightened when that big fellow jumped at 
me.” 

Up to this time, the heavy blows on the anvil had con- 
tinued without ceasing, and even after Don had pushed 
open the door, the sturdy blacksmith kept up his pound- 
ing a moment, so he could beat the red iron into shape 
before it cooled. Then turning to the new-comers, he 
asked : 

“ Well, what is it ? Hollo there, Nellie ; come to pay 
the old man a visit ? ” 

“ Yes,” replied Nellie, ‘‘ I came to tell you father must 
have his plow to day ; you promised it last week and he is 
swearing mad at you for keeping him waiting so ; and 
then, just as I reached the shop, that big dog came at me 
and would have eaten me had not this kind gentleman 
driven him off and nearly killed him ; guess he is dead 
by now.” 

“ What’s that ? ” cried old Peterson. 

But you should have seen the fight,” said Nellie, not 
noticing the interruption. “It was just splendid! He 
grabbed the dog just so — Oh ! Oh 1 Oh ! ” cried Miss 
Miller with pain, the big tears once more starting in her 
eyes. 

She had forgotten her bruised hand in the excitement 
of telling the blacksmith of her adventure, until she had 
grasped old Tom Peterson’s leather apron to demonstrate 
how Don took the hound ; when the pain caused her to 
cry out. 

“ He is harmless enough now,” called Don quickly, as 
old Tom ran out of the door with his big hammer in his 


TOO 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


fist. But the old blacksmith never halted until his long 
strides carried him across the road, to where the dog 
still lay. 

When he came up to the savage beast, and found him 
all covered with blood and dust, he dealt a few swift, 
strong blows on the brute’s head that took what little life 
there was left in him. 

‘‘1 guess he won’t ever fly at anyone again,” Peterson 
said to himself as he recrossed the road. “ My Lord ! 
what if he had killed little Nellie ! How the devil did he 
get loose, anyhow ? Well, he is safe enough now, that’s 
one thing sure.” 

Nellie was the pet of the neighborhood, and for harm 
to come near her was a serious matter in the eyes of Tom 
Peterson ; had it been anyone else, it would have been of 
much less consequence. 

Nellie and Don together gave the old smith a pretty 
good idea of the whole alfair and after that, as Don’s 
part in the affray became generally known with the em- 
bellishments that were added to the tale as it spread, 
Nellie’s hero could have had the county for the asking. 

Don tied up the little fingers carefully in his big hand- 
kerchief ; the old blacksmith promised the plow, sure, 
that day ; and then, upon Don’s explaining his plans for 
the day, little Nellie begged to go along. 

She knew the short cut to Fisher’s meadows and ex- 
actly the best place to fish ; she would keep just as still ; 
please let her go ; Mr. Peterson could stop on his way 
home to dinner and tell her folks where she was ; it would 
only be a little out of his way. 

So Don gained a pilot for his bravery, if nothing more. 
Very demurely did Miss Nellie trot along by the side of 
her handsome companion, until they had gone some dis- 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


lOI 


tance down the dusty lane, when she halted a moment, 
with : 

“ Say, what is your name ? you have never told me and 
we can’t talk to each other unless we know our names ; 
mine is Nellie Miller.” 

“ And mine is Don Gilbar,” replied Don, “ and I am 
very much pleased to meet you. Miss Nellie. You are 
such a beautiful child that I trust you are not naughty as 
you would lead one to imagine, sicking big dogs on to 
strangers who never did you any harm.” 

“ Well, Mr. Gilbar, I guess I am bad. But everyone 
likes me excepting you, and I wouldn’t do anything to 
harm you now, because I like you better than anyone I 
ever knew.” 

“ What makes you think I don’t like you ? ” laughed 
Don. 

“Well, because you didn’t look as if you did,” replied 
Nellie, “ when you first saw me to-day. Anyone else 
would have noticed me, but I really believe you would 
have passed right on and never given me a thought had 
you not seen me about to be eaten up.” 

The big tears again stood in the sensitive child’s eyes, 
partly at the remembrance of her supposed slight and 
partly from nervousness at the recollection of her recent 
danger. 

“ Come, come, Nellie,” Don began, “ you must not mind 
me, for I am a big, rude fellow, and do not appreciate 
young ladies as I should ; but am very sure I am proud to 
know you think so much of me already and shall try very 
hard to always hold your admiration. Now don’t be blue 
any more, for my heart is heavy and you must cheer me 
up.” 

And indeed Don’s little companion did cheer him, as 


T02 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


they trod along through the fields. She was so naive and 
bright and wonderfully quick, for her years, that she 
proved excellent company and able to sustain her part in 
the conversation that would naturally seem beyond one 
of her age. 

The time seemed short to both that they consumed in 
reaching the banks of a beautiful little stream, that was 
winding its way to the broad river, now rushing merrily 
over the smooth white pebbles, the fleecy froth on its pure 
bosom seeming to denote great haste and stress in its 
hurry to reach the end ; and then again, as if exhausted, 
further down it would rest in some cool, deep, dark pool, 
grateful for the shade of the wide-spreading elms and 
willows upon its banks. As they paused along the edge 
of one of these dark places, Nellie insisted : 

Now, Mr. Don, if you can’t catch some fish here you 
don’t amount to much, and I do hope you will get 
a good long string, then you will not say T am a 
hoodoo.’ ” 

So Don set to work and in an hour had landed a good 
basket full of various sized perch and cat-fish so easily 
that he was tired of what was no great sport. After 
enjoying their lunch, he lit a cigar and, stretching him- 
self on the soft grass, listened in a drowsy way to his 
vivacious companion’s ceaseless gossip. 

Nellie told him the legend of the whole surrounding 
country, gave him in detail, the history of the scattered 
families so far back as her personal knowledge carried 
her added to the reminiscences of all the old settlers in 
the community ; she was in her element; and in his half 
sleepy state Don was surely a very model audience, being 
possessed of his faculties in a sufficient degree, together 
with his inborn politeness, to at intervals ejaculate : 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


103 

“ Is that SO ? Well, I declare! You don’t tell me ? ’^ 
and such like original phrases. 

At times he was awakened to a hearty laugh by some 
of Nellie’s witty sayings. After a time she began to 
bemoan to Don her lack of having seen the great world 
beyond in the city. 

“ As papa and I were coming from Pleasantville last 
week,” went on Nellie, “ we stopped to feed the horses 
about six miles out, and while papa was asleep I went 
down to Spring Creek, and while I was throwing stones 
in the water, there came to me the most beautiful lady, 
with piles and piles of yellow hair wound around her 
head.” 

‘‘What’s that ” cried Don jumping up, wide-awake in 
an instant and grasping the child rudely by the arm, 
“ what are you telling me, Nellie ? ” 

“ Why, nothing yet,” replied his companion ; 1 was just 
going to tell you something. What did I say that has 
excited you so ? It’s the truth I am telling you.” 

“Well, well, I beg your pardon,” said Don, once more 
settling back upon the soft grass. “ Go on and tell me 
the truth, as you started. I promise not to disturb you 
again.” 

So Nellie continued : “ Well, as I was saying, such a 
magnificent young lady came to me. Oh ! she was the 
most beautiful being I ever saw ! I thought she must be 
a water nymph, such immense quantities of lovely hair : 
and she was dressed so funny ; only I know there are no 
such things, except in books. She had an unearthly look 
about her, but she spoke kindly to me, as she said : 

“ ‘ Little girl, where do you live ? ’ 

“ ‘ Oh, about ten miles up in the country,’ I said. 

“ ‘ Then I fear you cannot help me any,’ she said, and 


104 PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 

she seemed so disappointed and such a sad look came 
over her beautiful face that I ran up to her and took her 
hand, asking her what it was that troubled her. I didn’t 
suppose that I could do much, but I felt at that minute I 
would do everything in the world 1 could for her. 

“ Then we sat down on a large, flat rock and she told 
me that she wanted to go to the ‘ big city; ’ that she 
must go ; it meant more than everything in the world to 
her — why, she did not tell me. 

‘‘ She spoke so lovely but queer of herself, how she had 
always lived right out in the woods and upon the prairies, 
having no one to mind, and how she could do just as she 
pleased the same as the big buzzards that were flying 
above us. 

‘‘ But it seemed somehow something had happened to 
change her every way, and she wanted to get away from 
the country which she knew all about to some city where 
she would not knowhow to get about at all, nor she didn’t 
even know how to get there. Somehow she seemed kind 
of frightened about where she should go or what she 
should do after she got there. 

“ We seemed to get along together right from the first, 
and I tell you, Mr. Gilbar, I promised to meet her on the 
same spot the first Monday after the new moon and we 
were then to arrange some plan by which we could to- 
gether go to the ‘ city.’ I won’t tire you by telling how this 
all came about ; in fact, I hardly know any more, but it 
was with that promise we parted. Now, there are only five 
more days until I must see her, and I don’t know one 
bit more what we will do, or how we will get to the city, 
than I did yesterday, or the week before. Papa would 
never say I could go, and the more I think of leaving 
without his permission, the more frightened I get. I have 


PROPERTY OF PON G I LEAR. 


105 

i talked some to Tom Paxson ; you know he says he is 
going to marry me soon as I grow up.” 

Don did not know this ; in fact, until that moment, he 
had never heard of the aforesaid Tom Paxson ; but he 
made no reply, as it was not necessary, and he was de- 
termined not to break the chain of Nellie’s thoughts, so 
intensely interested was he and so more than anxious to 
learn the facts and details of a story that the narrator 
little thought was of such vital importance to her audi- 
ence. 

“Now I think,” continued Nellie, “ Tom’s a fool; and 
I would die an old maid before I would marry him. If 
I only could, I should like to marry someone like you, 
Mr. Don, when I am old enough. But Tom is good to 
me, so sometimes I let him hold my hand ” — this with a 
merry twinkle in her eye, — “ at the same time I always 
tell him that I am too young to know anything about 
getting married.” 

“ So you are going to New York next week ? ” broke in 
Don. The conversation was beginning to grow very 
tiresome, and he thought best to bring the little maiden 
back to the point, lest her childish mind should stray 
away entirely from that which was of interest to him. 

“Oh, yes,” replied Nellie. “What will Ido.? Can’t 
you help me ? Can’t you find the w^ay to New York and 
tell me how to coax papa to let me go .?” 

“ Now I tell you,” returned Don, jumping up from the 
grass, “ don’t you say a word to anyone else of all you 
have just been telling me, not even to your father or 
this Tom of yours, and let me think it out, and I believe 
we can hit on some plan that wall enable you to see New' 
York City, together w'ith your friend, and to have 3'ou go 
with the full consent of your father. But let us not talk 


io6 PROPERTY OF DON GTLBAR. 

of it more to-day ; just keep your own counsel and I will 
do the rest. It is time now we were going home. Where 
do you live, anyhow ? You know I am visiting at Ste- 
phen Lykin’s. Is your father’s farm near Stephen’s?” 

Only about a mile,” said Nellie, ‘‘ and you go right 
by our place.” 

With that they gathered up their fish and tackle and 
a brisk walk soon brought them to Miller’s farm. 

‘‘You have such a neat, lovely home that I wonder 
you are willing to leave it,” said Don, as they reached 
the gate. 

“ No, thank you, I won’t stop this evening,” he con- 
tinued, in reply to Nellie’s hearty invitation to stay for 
supper, but I may walk back to-night and see Mr. 
Miller, or if not, I will be over some time to-morrow, sure ; 
so good-bye, Nellie. You never will know how much 
good you have done me to-day, but I may be able to make 
it up to you very soon. Now mind, not a word to 
anyone.” 

And lifting his hat, as courteously as he would have 
done to a queen, he strode up the road, his mind in- 
tent on a great plan that was rapidly assuming shape 
in his brain. 

Nellie watched him until he was out of sight, then she 
said, half aloud : 

“ I never thought there were such magnificent people 
in the world.” 

'■ And then she ran merrily up the broad path to the 
house. 

I 


FKOFERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


107 


CHAPTER IX. 

“Well, Jack, I suppose you are pretty well tired out 
after your hard day’s work. I congratulate you and am 
truly very much pleased that your cattle weighed out so 
much better than you expected. 

“ Now I have a long story to tell you and have come to 
a point where I think you can be of the greatest assistance 
to me, should my plans succeed, as I am very hopeful 
they will. You will, in the first place, be doing an inesti- 
mable favor to the man who would lay down his life for 
you, if it were necessary ; then you will also do a beneficent 
act to a fellow-creature at present denied the full exercise 
of all the faculties with which we should be naturally en- 
dowed ; and in addition to these, should you succeed at 
what I am aiming, it will be a master stroke in your 
profession. 

“ Come, now, where can we go to be uninterrupted, 
where you can rest your weary limbs ? — although what I 
am about to tell you, I think, will drive all fatigue away.” 

A happy light came into Jack’s eyes, followed by a look 
of great interest, while Don was so earnestly soliciting his 
attention. The day’s labors were over and the two young 
men had just come forth from a supper made more enjoy- 
able by Don’s contribution of the spoils of his day’s efforts. 
As he lit his pipe. Jack placed one hand on his companion’s 
shoulder and replied : 

“ Don, I know you are going to tell me about your 
strange disappearance and, stranger still, how you could 


Io8 PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 

have been alive, and, at the same time, the extensive and 
extended efforts to find you all have failed. More than 
that, of course, I cannot surmise as to what you have to 
say ; but do not have any anxiety about my lack of vi- 
tality. We have put in a full day and I was pretty well 
tired out, but we have just had a hearty meal and what 
little you have said has driven all weariness from me, so 
that I am good for all night. These two old chairs look 
inviting. Let us sit down ; and I assure you you have my 
undivided attention.’' 

And then it was that Don narrated his experience 
during the long Winter months, giving Jack the minutest 
details of each incident as it occurred, interspersing the 
plain facts with the thoughts and impressions which were 
made upon him from time to time. 

It was long into the night before Don had told all. The 
night air had grown very chilly, but neither noticed this 
in their intense interest. 

As Don paused, before proceeding further with what was 
so wholly occupying his mind, the cocks could be heard 
crowing for the midnight hour ; first one lusty fellow, near 
at hand, who was answered almost instantly by another 
on some far-distant farm ; then others took up, and passed 
along the shrill notes which seemed to say, ‘‘ All’s well,” 
until as a cordon of sentinels the circle was completed. 

“ Now, Jack, this is my idea,” continued Don : Minna 
is as pure and lovely as the fairest lily. There is undoubt- 
edly some great mystery connected with her past. She 
has great self-will and strong character ; but there is no 
use talking, there is something wrong in her head. Her 
brain is not altogether right, that is certain ; and you are 
the man to not only know just what is the matter, but to 
remedy it. 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


109 

From what I know of her, and little Nellie has to-day 
strengthened this opinion, she is determined to go to New 
York City. Now Nellie will see her again in a few days, 
which is most fortunate for us, and I want you to be 
present at this meeting. Nellie and Minna both feel that 
some one must aid them in accomplishing their wishes to 
go East. Nellie knows you very well, and has the utmost 
confidence in you, as well as has her father, no doubt. 
Now what is the matter with our going over there to- 
morrow ? Or, better still, you say her father is coming 
here in the morning to get your answer about buying 
your cattle. He knows, as well as we all do, that you are 
expecting to go to New York in a week or ten days, 
or just as soon as you can wind up your business 
here. Cannot you, or I, or both of us, coax the old farmer 
to let Nellie spend a year or so in New York with my 
people ! Maud would be good to her for our sakes ; be- 
sides, I believe she would love her for her own sake. 
Little Nellie is a very bright, promising child. 

“ If old Miller consents, we will have made a big start ; 
for then Minna will go right along, as a matter of course. 
As the girls have already been plotting and scheming how 
to get to the city, they will regard you as a veritable 
Moses ; only I mean for you to go Moses one better and 
get into the promised land yourself, along with the children. 
Now, I cannot see why so far we haven’t plain sailing. 

“Then I want you to study Minna carefully, find out what 
is the matter ; for I do not believe her strange ways are 
natural. At the same time I am sure I do not know what 
is the matter. If there is any possibility of clearing her 
mind or strengthening it, why do it. Jack, regardless of ex- 
pense. Come, now, what do you say } ” 

After Don ceased talking there was an ominous silence. 


I lO 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


Don’s thoughts ran on into the future ; so contident was 
he of the young doctor’s co-operation that it hardly 
occurred to him that it was necessary for Jack to pledge 
his aid in words. It almost startled him when Jack 
replied : 

‘‘ Well, Don, what you have been telling me is indeed 
very remarkable. From other lips than yours I doubt if 
I would credit a word of it ; and anyhow, pardon me for 
saying so, it takes an immense amount of faith for me to 
believe that you could be shut up for weeks and months 
in a cave with a crazy woman. And the strangest part of 
all is that you should fall in love with her. I must say, 
taking it all together, it’s a pretty big one you have been 
giving me.” 

‘‘ You surely do not think I have been lying to you ? ” 
exclaimed Don, jumping up. “ What object could I 
have ? ” 

“ Hold on,” returned Jack, “ do not get excited. You 
must understand and appreciate how very, very strange it 
all seems to me.” 

“ Jack, will you help me, or will you not? that is what 
I want to know,” said Don, evidently much hurt by his 
friend’s manner. “ There is no need of our discussing 
whether I have been telling you the truth or not. I am 
not asking you for any money that you need think it is a 
‘ Bunco Game,’ nor is there anything in it, either, that need 
jeopardize your reputation.” 

What have I said to irritate you so ? ” broke in Jack. 
‘‘ I haven’t refused to do what I can to further your happi- 
ness ; but I must think this over a little. Now, for one 
thing ; what will you be doing while I am traveling over 
the country with two fascinating young ladies, barring one 
being a little daft ? ” 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


III 


“Of course you will do your part,’^ asserted Don, “and 
I will overlook your speaking so lightly of a very serious 
matter. There is nothing to be gained by getting mad. 
I wrote on yesterday to Maud, telling her that I was alive 
and well and that I would be home in a few days ; that 
my adventures, since I saw her dear little face last, were 
too numerous to write and for her to break the intelligence 
of my coming gently to father and mother. In substance 
that is about all I wrote her. 

“ My idea would be to remain here until you three had 
had a conference and we could advise together as to what 
would be the best course to adopt with Minna; — where 
would be the best place for her to go, as for every reason 
it would not do for her to go to my home. 

“ I now think it will be best for me to go on to New York 
first, in advance of the rest of you, so I can arrange any 
details there that may be necessary before your coming ; 
but all this we can decide after you have seen her.’^ 

“ All right, Don,’^ said Jack, “ I am with you heart and 
soul in any enterprise that I can be persuaded is for your 
best interest. 

“ We can do no more to-night, so let us try to get a little 
sleep ; and in the morning I will engage myself in your be- 
half, in so far as gaining Miller’s consent to Nellie’s going 
to New York is concerned, and I will also see your Minna ; 
further than that, do not ask me to promise more than I 
have. We will be guided by circumstances as we come 
to them.’^ 

The following morning broke bright and clear, with 
every indication of a hot day. Both of the young men 
were among the first to stir on the farm. Don had not 
slept at all, while Jack’s slumbers had been very light and 
troubled. 


I I 2 


PROPERTY OF DO iV G/LBAR. 


His mind was very much burdened with what Don had 
told him. Knowing young Gilbar as intimately as he did, 
he felt that his fearless and even reckless disposition 
would render turning him from anything he had set his 
mind upon next to impossible, and the young doctor 
thought with perfect horror of a young man of Don’s 
brilliant prospects devoting his life and energies to an in- 
sane woman. He especially dreaded this state of affairs 
because of his extreme fondness for Don. 

'riiere was no question but that young Gilbar was com- 
pletely enamored of this being, who was especially fas- 
cinating to him because of the mystery and uncertainty of 
her past and future. Anyhow, Jack decided that the only 
thing to do was to apparently favor Don in all his plans 
and to trust to the future for a way out of the present 
perplexing difficulties. 

“How d’ye, boys ? ” sang out old Miller as he rode into 
the yard about an hour after the sun was up. “ \Vell, are 
you in a selling humor this morning, Jack.? 

“ Oh, this is Mr. Gilbar I reckon,” as he grasped Don by 
the hand ; “ [ am glad to know you, sir, and want to thank 
you for doing my little girl such a good turn yesterday. 
Don't know what old Tom would do if anything should 
happen to Nellie. I promised her I would bring you 
home with me to-day ; she feels very grateful to you.” 

“ Oh, that’s nothing,” replied Don, with his usual sang- 
froid, “ I had forgotten all about it and I am sure she 
helped me through with a long day in such a pleasant 
manner that it is I who am her debtor. Nellie is a very 
sweet child. I have taken quite an interest in her. I 
was just saying to Jack here that I would be pleased to 
have her spend a while with my sister and mother in New 
York.” 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


Don was going right at the subject uppermost in his 
mind. 

‘‘ It would do her good, Mr. Miller,’’ he continued, and 
I am sure my sister would be only too glad to have such 
a dear, cheerful little companion as Nellie. Jack agrees 
with me that it would be just the thing. How does it 
strike you ” 

“Well now, boys, I don’t know about this. I am much 
obliged to you, Mr, Gilbar, for your invitation, and I know 
it isn’t anything but kindness that led you to think of this 
for Nellie; so you mustn’t think I do not value it when I 
say I think Nellie is better off at home. You agree with 
me, don’t you. Jack ? ” 

“ T am not so sure about that,” said Jack. “ It would 
make Nellie happy, enlarge her ideas and make her a 
more useful woman to see something of city life. She is 
very bright naturally. Then, too, you know, as I ” — 
here Jack hesitated a minute before he said, “ am expect- 
ing to make Don’s sister my wife in the near future, I 
would naturally think Nellie would be in the best of hands. 
I am going back soon myself, as you know, and would keep 
an eye on her, sending you prompt reports as to her health 
and behavior; and if anything should begin going amiss, 
we could ship her right home to you.” 

After considerable more discussion on the subject. 
Miller wound up the question for the time being, by say- 
ing : 

“ 1 suppose you will have it your own way, boys, so you 
have my consent. We will go home after a while and 
talk it over with mother. I guess she will be all right 
and think it a great thing for Nellie, but it will be durned 
hard on the old man to take his little girl away, even for 
a time.” 

8 


PROPERTY OF DOlY GILBAR. 


114 

As the old farmer thought of parting with his little 
darling, there was no doubt that his eyes filled with 
moisture, try to hide it as he would. And then, in a 
bigger, rougher voice, evidently to conceal his emotion, 
he finished with — 

‘‘ No matter, if it is for her good. 

“ But come. Jack, let’s get to business. We will waste 
the whole day in talking. Have you and Stephen decided 
to let me have the cattle, or not ? ” 

That day Jack and Stephen concluded a bargain with 
Miller for most of the cattle, and in a couple of days more 
Jack had finished up about all of his business affairs. 
Mrs. Miller’s consent had only too readily been given 
to Nellie’s accompanying Dr. Lykin back to New York, 
and on the next Monday Jack was to go with Nellie and 
be present at the meeting between her and Minna. 

This meeting had been arranged for early enough in 
the day that Jack and Nellie could go on to old Squire 
Lykin’s farm the same afternoon. 

As they all expected that Minna would accompany 
them to New York, the plan was to instruct Minna to 
meet them at the station in Pleasantville on the day and 
hour subsequently decided upon. In the meanwhile, 
Don was to ride to the Squire’s farm beforehand, and 
there await the report as to the result of this momentous 
meeting ; for under no circumstances would it do for 
Minna to see Don. And this programme they carried out 
successfully. 

Don rode thoughtfully from Stephen’s farm down to the 
Squire’s, where the family welcomed him warmly, having 
been apprised of his being in the land of the living after 
all. They were expecting to see him soon, but did not 
know the exact day of his coming. 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR, 


115 

The Squire went over the exciting ride, on that cold 
Winter’s night, again and again. He liked Don from the 
first, and his regard was increasing all the time. Don 
gave them a tolerably accurate account of where and how 
he had spent the Winter, for some reason best known to 
himself carefully omitting any allusion to Minna, and at 
times, when driven in a close corner in his narrative, pre- 
varicating so far as he deemed it necessary to hide from 
them as much as he wished at present. 

Although the whole family could readily see that Don’s 
tale was not entirely consistent in every detail, they were 
polite enough not to question him too closely, and in the 
main were satisfied with the explanation he gave of his 
mysterious disappearance for so long a time. 

Jim and Don took to each other at once. It was not 
long before Jimmie decided that in Don he saw his beau- 
ideal of a man, while Don in turn was just suited with 
Jimmie’s self-reliant and straightforward manner. So 
that, altogether, the time from Don’s arrival until Monday 
evening passed more rapidly than he had hoped for. 
But when the hours of seven, eight and nine had passed 
and Dr. Lykin and his charge did not appear, they all 
grew a little anxious, while Don’s restlessness was really 
growing painful. 

Jack and Nellie left the farm in good time, so there 
would be no delay on their part at the trysting place. 
They drove in a little light wagon. Jack having some lug- 
gage they could in this way carry, as well as the few 
necessary articles Nellie took with her, though these were 
not many, as she expected as soon as she got to the city 
to provide an entirely new wardrobe. 

They drove merrily along. Nellie, not realizing as yet 
that she was leaving home, did not have any homesick 


Ii6 PROPERTY Oh DON G I LEAR, 

feeling; so that she talked incessantly, and Dr. Lykin, 
feeling that he had once more started on a journey that 
would eventually end in the presence of his fiancee, was 
also in excellent spirits. 

Nellie’s meeting with Minna had been arranged for 
high noon, and a little before that hour they turned off 
from the main road and drove into a little clearing on the 
banks of Spring Creek. After waiting for some time be- 
yond the appointed hour, as Minna did not come, they 
ate a portion of the very appetizing little lunch that 
Steve’s wife had prepared for them. Still, the now anx- 
ioLisly-looked-for girl did not appear. 

It was late in the afternoon, when their spirits had 
dropped to the lowest ebb, that Minna stood before them 
so suddenly as to startle them. In some of her mysteri- 
ous ways she had been able to approach, her panther-like 
footfalls giving not the slightest warning of her coming. 

There she stood in all her regal beauty, arrayed in 
deepest black. Her lovely face held them spellbound 
with its marvelous charms, the shining bands of her 
golden hair making a crown of rarer grandeur than the 
gold that graces the heads of Europe’s rulers. Almost 
instantly she spoke to them, and her sweet voice seemed 
to permeate the air like the melody of a quaint re- 
frain. 

Minna has kept you waiting, but the cause was be- 
yond her power to prevent. No matter, she is here and 
thanks you for your faith in her that she would come, 
which your staying has proved. Minna is all ready. Do 
we go in yonder wagon, and has the little fairy provided 
a way and a guide } Come, speak, child ; do we go at 
once ? ” 

It was not what she said that impressed them so, but 


PROPER TY OF DON GILBAR. 1 1 7 

her innocent and at the same time courtly confidence in 
the future. 

Nellie quickly overcame to a great degree the feeling of 
awe that for the moment came over her, and going up to 
Minna, kissed her hand, as she said : 

‘‘ Indeed you are late, you great big, naughty w oman ; 
here you have kept us waiting so long. We were just 
about giving you up, but you are so beautiful and lovely 
.one can’t be angry with you. This is Dr. Lykin, Minna.” 

Minna slightly bowed her head, with the faintest smile 
in her eyes. 

‘‘ He is going to New York to live. He has been there 
often, so know's all about it; and he says we may go with 
him. It would take too long to drive there, but we will 
go in the cars ; we must be very good, at least I must,” 
remembering the parting instructions of her parents, “and 
do just as he tells me. The doctor is the best man in the 
world, and it is so kind of him to take us. We cannot 
start right away, I guess, but you tell her. Doctor, just 
what we are to do.” 

During the brief colloquy Dr. Lykin had been observ- 
ing Minna closely. There was something familiar about 
her, yet he was sure he had never met her, or anyone at 
all like her, in all his varied experience; so he speedily 
dismissed that thought from his mind. There w'as no 
more surprise that Don, or any man, should fall passion- 
ately in love with such a being. 

By this time the professional side of the young doctor's 
character had asserted itself. And then he tried to 
hastily decide as to w'hether her mind was indeed some 
way affected, d'here was really nothing in her manner or 
what she said to establish this fact beyond a doubt. The 
odd way in which she expressed herself when talking 


1 1 8 PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 

might be attributed to the manners and customs of the 
people among whom she had lived. 

But as the doctor’s mind rapidly recalled the incidents 
of the past Winter, as related to him by Don, he was 
forced to the conclusion that there was some mystery, 
something wrong with this Minna ; or, possibly, it was 
Don’s mind that had been weakened by the great stress 
brought to bear upon him. And so great is the influence 
of a beautiful woman over man that the doctor was dis- 
posed rather to think it was his friend Don who was half 
crazy. 

As Nellie so deftly brought him into the conversa- 
tion, he undertook his part in a matter-of-course sort of 
way. 

Our little friend here has explained to me, Minna — 
shall I address you so, or what may I call you ? ” 

Call me Minna, it is the only name I know.” 

“ Well then, Minna, Nellie says you both want to go to 
New York. As I am going there and it would be no 
trouble, but a pleasure, to me to be your humble escort, 
and as Nellie is expecting to stay a while with some 
friends she has in the city, and as I suppose you are going 
to visit friends, I will endeavor to see you safely to their 
door. This is all very plain and easy, and my champion 
need not call me so kind and good for doing this simple 
act of courtesy.” 

‘‘As to when we shall start: we had intended wait- 
ing upon your convenience in the matter ; but 1 think I 
understood you to say you were ready now. Well, we 
can’t exactly go to-day, but if it will suit you to meet us to- 
morrow morning at the depot in Pleasantville, at eight 
o’clock, I will get the tickets, so you will have no trouble. 
I suppose your father, or somebody, will see to getting 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


119 


your trunks there in time, so that I can check them ; and 
I have no doubt we shall have a very pleasant journey.’’ 

Jack had stumbled through all this mainly to bring 
Minna out and induce her to say something about herself, 
without asking her what might seem to be impertinent 
questions. 

He was not supposed to know anything about her, so 
that what he had said all sounded natural enough. Minna 
seated herself gracefully on a mossy rock, as Jack paused 
for her reply. 

‘‘ The young doctor does not know Minna, so it is but 
natural that he should think as he has spoken. Minna 
has no friends ; she has needed them not, nor cared for 
them ; there were men who feared her and women who 
did her bidding, so that she has not known want. On the 
plains, in the fields and trackless timber, Minna is at 
home. She was never happy, but she was content until 
there came a great light into her heart that dazzled her 
with its brightness, and made her so happy that she suf- 
fered for very joy. 

“Can you imagine that you were blind during the years 
of your lifetime until now, and then in an instant the 
black darkness would be swept away and yonder sun, just 
as it is now breaking through the clouds, should fall here 
at your feet ? So it was with Minna ; but soon she grew 
accustomed to the great light ; she lived upon it ; the 
chilled and frozen casement that had bound her heart 
melted away and it grew budding into a flower that could 
not be conceived elsewhere than in Paradise. 

“ Then there came a time when it was necessary for 
Minna to leave her sun ; when, upon returning in a day, 
she found she was once more alone in the world. Since 
then, and now, Minna has groped in darkness ; the blood 


120 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LPAR. 


runs slowly through her veins and is congealing, as it flows 
to the heart ; she believes she can find the light in the 
city, whither we intend to journey. If not, she can but 
die.” 

As the sad cadence of her voice died away, the pitiful 
tenderness of her tale appealed to the hearts of her listen- 
ers for the deepest sympathy. 

“Minna, I think I understand, to a great extent, what 
you have been trying to tell me. I trust you will give me 
your confidence in full ; I do not ask it now, nor is it nec- 
essary just yet, but believe that in me you have a friend, 
and what I can do to aid you shall be done.” 

Jack said this with such an earnest ring in his voice 
that he at once gained Minna’s confidence, which was 
everything to start with. 

And so they conversed, taking no heed of the rapidly 
passing time. Minna explained to them that she had 
quantities of dresses of every description, and that she 
had selected a few of the most suitable which were near 
at hand ; leaving them to surmise how she could have 
been so well prepared. There would be money needed ; 
and handing Dr. Lykin a good-sized casket, she told him 
it contained what could be converted into ample funds for 
her needs. She said all this in her own way at intervals, 
among many other things she told them. 

The young doctor crossed her in nothing, but accepted 
all she told him as a matter of course ; taking the casket, 
when offered him, in the same manner, without any visible 
curiosity. 

Minna declined their invitation to go with them for the 
night, but would meet them, at the appointed time and 
place, on the morrow. The whole interview had been of 
such absorbing interest that Jack was greatly surprised as 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


12 1 


he noticed, upon the conclusion of their arrangements 
and their being ready to depart, that the sun was setting ; 
so they could not complete their day’s journey until after 
nightfall. Nellie had bidden Minna good-bye and sat 
perched up in the little wagon. 

Well, good-bye, Minna,’’ said Jack ; “ we must be 
hurrying along, as we have some distance yet to go to- 
night. I think we understand each other so far, and I 
think of nothing more to be said or done to-night. Do 
not fail to meet us promptly to-morrow morning, a little 
before eight o’clock. You had better come in the north 
door of the depot, as I will be looking out there for you. 
You understand everything now, do you not ? ” 

A bright smile spread over Minna’s face, born of hope 
in the future and reliance in her new-found friends, as she 
replied : 

‘‘ Minna understands all, and will not keep you waiting 
in the morning. Good-bye,” and then, as Jack turned to 
leave, she shaded her eyes with one lovely hand, the other 
raised high over her head as she exclaimed : 

“Can this be the setting of the sun of Minna’s destiny, 
or is it the beginning of a new life that will go on to end- 
less prosperity and joy ? ” And so they left her. 

It was a scene never to be forgotten. As she ceased 
speaking the fiery orb of heaven disappeared below the 
horizon — another day was done ; and the long shadows 
that had lain across their path disappeared, leaving no 
mark or impression of their recent presence. A cool, soft 
breeze stirred the branches above their heads, as one soli- 
tary star, bolder than its comrades, appeared in the sky ; 
it must have been the Star of Hope. 

Jack and his companion hardly spoke as they drove 
slowly along the dusty road, each busy with his or her 


122 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR.- 


own thoughts. Jack was too occupied to urge his team 
forward, so that it was quite late when they drove in the 
yard and up to the Squire’s door. 

“Where in the world have you been,” accosted Jimmie, 
“ keeping us all up until this late hour ? You must have 
started mighty late, or something.” 

“ That’s right, Jim,” interrupted Jack, “ I depended on 
getting a blowing up from you. How do you do, father 'I 
Hullo, mother, are you all well ? ” Jack had alighted by 
this time and kissed his mother dutifully as he spoke to 
her. 

“ Oh, w'e are all pretty well,” the good lady replied. 
Then the Squire shook hands with Jack, as he inquired : 
“ How are you. Jack.? What, is this my little sweetheart 
who has come to see me at last ? ” giving Nellie a hearty 
kiss as he lifted her from the wagon. 

The Squire and little Nellie were old friends. The gen- 
eral handshaking went on a little longer, Don also quietly 
joining the group. He was pale with excitement, the anx- 
iety of the day having visibly told upon him. Then the 
team was put away and the travelers, having partaken of the 
tasteful little supper prepared by good mother Lykin, the 
Squire called the family together, as was his custom, and 
after reading a chapter in the old Bible and repeating the 
same old prayer, word for word in the same tone, without 
rise or fall in his voice, as he had done for years, they all 
scattered, enabling Don to relieve his pent-up feelings 
with a host of questions which he put to Jack. 

The young doctor’s replies, in the main, were more 
than satisfactory, so that Don’s spirits rose to the highest 
pitch. 

As it was necessary for Don to reach New York City in 
advance of Jack and his party, the only way was for him 


PROPEkTY OP DON G I LEAR. 123 

to start at two o’clock that night. If he did this and Jack 
should stop over in Chicago a day, it would give Don 
time to at least make temporary arrangements for Minna, 
and apprise his family of the guests that would so soon 
follow him. As nothing was so hard for Don to endure 
as inactivity, the idea of his starting practically at once 
just suited him. 

So Don began saying good-bye, and as the family had 
expected him to leave early in the evening, which was the 
original intention, they did not think it strange that he 
went on the first train. Jack and Don’s not making the 
journey together was explained by telling them that Jack 
might stop in Chicago several days, while Don was natu- 
rally anxious to see his family at the earliest possible 
moment after their mourning him as dead. 

Well, young man,” said the Squire, addressing Don, 
“ you never can tell how things are going to turn out. 
It’s a fact, you have had some experience, a little too 
much experience I would say, since you came West ; at 
the same time, you haven’t learned much about our every- 
day life, and I wish you could stay longer.^’ 

“ Oh, I have done pretty well,” replied Don, ‘‘ and I 
suppose I can come back again, some time. I tell you, 
we will get Jack settled, and for the first year or two Maud 
and he won’t have much time for their big brother ; so 
then you must let me come out here.” 

“ Indeed we will,” returned the Squire ; “ you will 
always be welcome; the horses are at your disposal, and 
we will try and fix it so you won’t miss them much.” 

In the meanwhile, Jim and Nellie had been worrying 
each other. Neither being much troubled with bashful- 
ness, it had not taken them long to become acquainted, 
and both being of a teasing disposition, they had quarreled 


124 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


and made up a half dozen times within the hour. But 
as Jim was to drive Don over to the depot, it was time 
for them to depart ; and although Jimmie started off 
growling at being kept up so late, as a matter of fact he 
was in a very good humor, had spent an especially pleas- 
ant evening and parted with Nellie the best of friends. 

The sound of the horses^ hoofs had hardly died away 
before the Squire’s family were in bed and asleep, enjoy- 
ing much-needed rest, after what was to them a long and 
rather exciting day. 


PROFEirrY OF DON GJLBAR. 


125 


CHAPTER X. 

‘‘So, Jim, you will come to see me next Winter, won^t 
you ? ” said Don, as he and Jimmie were bowling along 
on the road to the station. 

“ I reckon so,” answered Jim ; that is, providing the 
Squire can get along without me.” 

“ Oh, you can fix it some way, Jimmie, and I will take 
you around to see some of the fine horses, take you to 
the Club and show you how we box and fence. We’ll 
make you see a good time in some way ; there are lots of 
things I could show you that 1 don’t suppose you ever 
dreamed of.” 

“ By George ! I am not afraid of that,” replied Jimmie, 
“ and I am anxious enough to come ; but you know how 
it is, they can’t do anything here without me. The Squire 
has always been good to me, so I wouldn’t want to leave 
him in a tight place ; but we will fix it up some way, and I 
think you may count on seeing me some time next Winter.” 

Jim said this as they drove up to the platform at the 
depot. His passenger sprang to the ground just as soon 
as they stopped and, after Jimmie had tumbled the grip- 
sacks out after him, he continued : 

“ Well, good-bye, Don, I’ll hurry back home and try to 
catch a little sleep yet to-night. Hope you will have a 
safe trip. Give my love to Jack’s girl and tell her she 
missed it by not waiting until she had seen me.” 

“All right, Jimmie, I will tell her just what you say. 
Good-bye. Don’t kill the horses going home.” 


126 


PROPERTY OF PON GILBAR. 


Jim was soon out of hearing and Don was left alone, 
to tramp up and down the dimly-lighted platform and to 
wait patiently, if possible, until his train, due in about 
twenty minutes, should come along. 

Fortunately, the train was on very good time and Don 
was, sooner than he might have expected, comfortably 
seated in the smoking apartment of the sleeper, awaiting 
the making up of his berth by the porter. His mind had 
been very much relieved since his interview with Dr. 
Lykin in regard to Minna. It might take some time,” 
the doctor had said, “ to restore Minna’s mind to its 
natural balance, if indeed there was anything the matter 
with her other than the eccentricities occasioned by the 
strange life she had led among the gypsies.” But in every 
way he had spoken most hopefully. 

Don was completely worn out with the continued excite- 
ments he had passed through, so that he slept, with the 
exception of rare intervals, almost throughout the entire 
journey to New York. 

His mother and Maud wept for very joy at his being 
restored to them ; it was almost pitiful to note his mother 
— how she could not bear him out of her sight for an in- 
stant ; how she would follow him from room to room, 
utterly oblivious of all else save that her boy was once 
more with her. Maud, too, plied him with questions as 
to Jack, repeating the same inquiries over and over again, 
until Don laughingly told her: 

‘‘ This makes about twenty times that I have said to 
you, Maud, that Jack is very well indeed ; I never saw 
him looking better. Now if you will just tell me how to 
put this to you in such an emphatic way that you will be 
satisfied, I will be only too pleased to do it.” 

‘‘ Now, dearie,” replied Maud, I don’t mean to worry 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


127 


you. Of course I am sure Jack is perfectly well, if you 
say so ; and you did tell me he is well, didn’t you ? He 
hasn't been working too hard, has he 1 and you do not 
think he has injured his health seriously, in any way, by 
going out there on the farm, in such severe weather 
especially } ” 

“ Now see here, Maud,” interrupted Don, “ S 

County, Iowa, is just full of the most healthy men on the 
face of the earth ; there are hundreds of them lying about 
in every direction who must be three or four hundred 
years old ; still they are that healthy that they do not look 
to be over twenty. Now, if yoti will take the combined 
health of the whole county and put it into one man, you 
will know just about how well Jack is.” 

“ Dear, you haven’t changed a bit ; go along and tease 
me all you want to to-day, for I am so happy, I couldn’t 
be angry if I tried.” 

‘‘ Well, girls,” went on Don, addressing his mother and 
Maud both, “ I must be going out and attending to some 
very important and pressing matters.” 

“ You are not going out of the house to-day,” they both 
exclaimed. 

Oh, but I must. Now you understand all about Jack’s 
getting here to-morrow, some time, and about little Nellie 
Miller being with him. Fix her room up as nicely as you 
know how, put some flowers in it and one thing and 
another. Maud knows how to do it, so the child won’t 
get homesick. You will both love her, for she is a sweet 
little thing and will be great company for Maud while we 
men are out. Maud is getting to that age, anyhow, when 
she needs a protege, or some excuse to keep her in 
society” — this with a twinkle in his eye. 

“ Thank you,” retorted Maud, ‘‘ 1 have all the attention 


128 


PROPERTY OF DON GII.BAR. 


and court paid me one could wish, and it will be many 
a long day yet before I am laid on the shelf to be taken 
down only as needed to chaperon some ‘ bud.’ ” 

“Oh ! indeed ! ” interrupted Don. 

“ But it is all right, brother, I will not vent my spite on 
Miss Nellie for the fun you keep poking at me ; but of 
course it will be very hard for her, in starting out, to have 
such a brilliant contrast as I by her side all the time ; 
still I will make myself as plain as possible and try to 
keep in the background.’* 

“ Do not concern yourself too much about that, you 
conceited little girl,” said Don ; “ I warn you, you will 
have all you can do in taking care of your laurels. But I 
am off ; you may expect me in good time for dinner,” and 
Don strode through the hall with a brisk step. 

Going out into the street, he hailed a hansom and rode 
direct to his father’s office. To that gentleman’s credit, 
be it said, Mr. Gilbar was so pleased at seeing his son 
once more that he gave him, for the asking, a check 
filled in with a big round sum, without inquiring what use 
Don had for so much money right at once. 

Possessed of this powerful ally in accomplishing all 
ends in the world, Don busied himself until late in the 
afternoon in preparing for the arrivals expected on the 
morrow. He had considerable difficulty in finding just 
what he wanted ; but by a liberal use of his money he 
secured a lovely suite of rooms, in a convenient part of 
the city and within easy reach of the Park, so that Minna 
might have the benefit of what little fresh air there was 
in the city, together with the privilege of seeing the blue sky. 

He also engaged three competent nurses, who were to 
relieve each other and thus be able to keep a constant 
watch over their patient, day and night. 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


129 


Don had at last found something to do, and by the 
time the day was ended he felt quite like a man of busi- 
ness. Going home to dinner in high spirits, he spent the 
whole evening with Maud and his mother, giving them 
a highly colored history of his exj^loits since he had been 
away from them, leaving out any reference to Minna, as 
he feared they could not understand or appreciate the 
description he would be compelled to give of her at that 
time. 

Maud and Don sang a good part of the evening, their 
hearts being full of joy. This music was a great pleasure 
to them. Don’s rich tenor voice was so full of winning 
sympathy that his mother, feeling she had never heard 
him sing so before, jokingly said to him : 

“ Don, you sing as if you were in love.” 

Well, I am in love with" you and Maud,” was Don’s 
reply. 

At a late hour they retired, to be awakened the follow- 
ing morning by the newsboys crying “ World ! Sun ! 
Herald ! All the morning papers. All about the great 
railroad accident.” At the same time, the household was 
more thoroughly aroused by a sharp and repeated ringing 
of the door-bell. few minutes later, old George 
knocked at Don’s door, and, being admitted, handed young 
Gilbar one of those little yellow envelopes, which have 
so often brought joy, and at other times sorrow, to many 
households. 

'felling old George to pay the messenger-boy and sign 
for the telegram, Don hastily tore open the dispatch, and 
read — 

“ Warrenville, N. Y., July 2, 18—. 

“ Don Gilrar, No. — • Fifth Ave., New York. 

“ ( )ur train in a bad smashup ; a number killed ; many badly hurt ; 

9 


130 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


our party all badly bruised, but hope for no fatal results. Meet us 
yourself three-thirfy Grand Central. 

“ Jack.” 

* * # * # 

It was a sultry Summer morning upon which Dr. 
Lykin impatiently paced up and down the platform of 
the depot at Pleasantville. 

Jim had driven the doctor and Nellie into town early, 
and while he and Nellie were enjoying each other’s com- 
pany, Jack looked anxiously in all directions for Minna’s 
arrival. 

About ten minutes before the train was due, hearing a 
great clatter of hoofs, Dr. Lykin looked along the dusty 
road, to see Minna coming at full speed. She was 
mounted on a superb beast which was covered with foam 
and dust, its distended nostrils and panting sides pro- 
claiming a sharp, hard ride. As Minna pulled her steed 
on his haunches, by the side of the platform, she sprang 
lightly to the ground and taking the bit from his mouth 
— she had had no saddle — hit the brute a sharp cut with 
her willow switch, causing him to wheel and dash back 
along the road. It was a beautiful animal that Minna 
rode and worthy of a second notice, as was Minna’s feat 
of riding and control ing the high-strung charger as she 
did, without saddle or bridle ; but more important and 
pressing matters demanded their attention, so that the 
horse and the ride passed almost instantly out of sight 
and mind. 

‘‘Good-morning, Minna,” accosted Jack, extending his 
hand, “we have only a few minutes to wait. I have our 
tickets all right, but where is your baggage.^ We must 
attend to that quickly, for there is not much time left.” 

“ Good-morning, sir,” replied Minna at the same time, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


131 

inclining her head with a bright smile to Nellie, her face 
much flushed with the heat, her hard ride, anH possibly 
the excitement of the moment. Her magnificent hair was 
partly loosened and almost falling down, but in spite of 
all she looked beautiful in the extreme. ‘‘ You will find 
Minna’s trunk somewhere hereabouts, for two stout wood- 
mea fetched it in the night and guarded it well, until day- 
light made it unnecessary.” 

“ I think that is the lady’s trunk,” interrupted a man, 
coming forward, who would have been taken for an 
official solely because of his cap, which was the regula- 
tion railroad headpiece. 

‘‘ I'he man speaks well,” replied Minna. 

So Jack having found the desired baggage, proceeded 
to secure the balance of his checks, having attended to 
the transportation of his own and Nellie’s baggage before, 
and a moment later a long shrill whistle heralded the 
approaching train. It could easily be seen, on their going 
aboard, that Minna was not used to traveling on the rail- 
road, but the same might be said of little Nellie. So that 
although Dr. Lykin watched her critically, he was unable, 
after an hour’s ride, to form a more satisfactory conclu- 
sion as to the state of her mind than he had at previous 
times. 

The atmosphere was oppressively hot and humid, as 
the train sped along through the varying landscape. 
Minna grew distressingly nervous and excited, all efforts 
to engage her in any connected conversation being fruit- 
less. In time she grew pale, and in a disconnected way 
indicated that she was suffering from sharp pains in her 
head and nausea, so that before they had proceeded 
many miles upon their journey, the young doctor per- 
suaded his patient to lie down in the berth he instructed 


132 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR, 


the porter to make up ; and then, going back in the car, 
he opened a small medicine chest and, mixing a soothing 
draught, he brought it to her. 

As he had been absent only a few moments, he was 
much surprised upon his return to find Minna sleeping 
quietly; at the same time his attention was arrested 
by the strong odor that pervaded the apartment. A mo- 
ment later he perceived a vial clutched by her delicate 
fingers. With a mystified look the doctor disengaged 
her hold upon the vial and, removing the stopper, he 
moistened his tongue with the potion. Instantly he 
knew that she had administered to herself a drug so rare 
and powerful, and at the same time so little in use, that 
only once before had he come in contact with it. The 
great wonder was, how had she ever become possessed of 
such medicine, and how could she know the use of it, or 
what portion could be taken with safety? To inhale suf- 
ficient to produce sleep so quickly, especially to one in 
Minna’s previous excited condition, was very dangerous; 
but as Minna was breathing easily, the doctor introduced 
as much fresh air as was possible into the apartment and, 
knowing that it would be a long while before the effect 
of the drug would naturally pass away, he supplied little 
Nellie with a quantity of books and papers, together with 
fruit and nuts, and then returned to patiently and atten- 
tively watch for the result. What it would be, he ac- 
knowledged to himself, he did not know. 

At intervals during the day they stopped to supply the 
engine with coal and water or, as they reached the ter- 
mini of the several divisions, to change engines. No 
doubt the sultry day and the surroundings were con- 
ducive to the frame of mind that the young doctor was 
in ; but, experienced and practical as he was, he thought 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


133 


how strange it all seemed. They rushed along, ap- 
parently through space and without any effort on their 
part ; they were covering miles upon miles of distance. 
All that was necessary was for him to sit quietly, and in 
a comparatively short time he would be transported from 
the wild, thinly inhabited plains into the throbbing heart 
of the great city. To-day, he had but parted from the 
relatives and friends of his youth, to-morrow he would be 
miles away, surrounded by friends of later years and ties 
that bound him none the less securely because of their 
newness. He had nothing more to do now but to remain 
inactive and subject to the will of the man who held his 
hand firmly on the pulse of the great hissing monster that 
was drawing him so swiftly and surely into the presence 
of his darling. 

His thoughts of Maud were so soothing that he, too, 
was soon fast asleep, unmindful of the precious charge 
that should have demanded his wakeful attention. For 
several hours he slumbered, and then some irresistible 
force — which proved to be Minna’s big eyes gazing stead- 
fastly at him — caused him to awake. 

“ A faithful guide never sleeps on the trail,” said Minna, 
in a low sweet voice. 

“ Well, that is so,” acknowledged the doctor, jumping 
up and rubbing his eyes ; “ but I thought the path was 
plain ; we had a good driver ; the rest of you were so 
discourteous as to sleep, so I thought I would join you in 
the ‘ Land of Nod.’ Do you feel better now ? Have the 
pains left your head ? ” 

As Jack became fully awake, he thought he had never 
seen any one so fascinatingly beautiful as the woman re- 
clining on the berth by his side. Her wonderful hair 
fell all about her ; the big blue eyes seemed to draw his 


134 


PROPERTY OF DON GTLRAR. 


v^ery heart from within him ; her mobile lips were parted 
by a sunny smile, telling plainly that all pain had passed 
away ; and the whole poise and graceful outlines sur- 
passed the strongest imagination. 

“ Minna has no pain now ; she left it far behind. Hid 
little Nellie come here ; Minna needs her.” 

“All right,” said Jack, feeling relieved at the oppor- 
tunity for leaving such a bewitchingly dangerous being. 
“ ril leave you girls alone awhile and go and have a 
smoke ; should you need me for anything, send the 
porter to the smoking apartment.” 

From this on, Minna was comparatively contented, 
although the close confinement of a railroad car was 
naturally very trying to one so used to perfect freedom 
as Minna had been all her life. The swift dashing speed 
of the train, however, pleased her and seemed to buoy up 
her spirits. 

Jack congratulated himself on the prospects of a safe 
journey and no further cause for trouble or anxiety on his 
part — something he w^as by no means sure of when they 
started. 

The doctor and his faithful little assistant did every- 
thing in their power to amuse and entertain their fellow- 
traveler. A few hours were spent in Chicago, and it 
was with some slight difficulty that they persuaded Minna 
that it was not their destination. Being the first city she 
had ever seen, she could not grasp the idea that there 
were still other and larger cities. To her, there was one 
country ; per contra^ there must be but one city. 

It was in discussing and trying to explain to her that 
they had many miles yet to travel before reaching the 
great city that her lack of mental balance became more 
apparent to the closely-observing young physician than 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 135 

at any previous time in his intercourse with her. Finally, 
though more because of her confidence in them than that 
she understood why they must go on, she resumed the 
journey, apparently satisfied. 

It was nearing midnight of the second night, with the 
heat oppressive, almost to suffocation. The few passen- 
gers were sleeping more or less uneasily, owing un- 
doubtedly to the intense sultriness. There was not a 
breath of air stirring naturally ; even the rushing train 
did not create any perceptible current of air, as it cut 
through the heavy, torrid atmosphere. 

Jack had gotten up and dressed himself, as he could 
not sleep ; and going back to the rear of the car, he 
looked out of the open window into the inky black dark- 
ness. At intervals, vivid lightning flashed along the 
rails, revealing the heavy clouds that seemed to descend 
to the ground immediately in their path ; and the deep 
thunder could be heard above the rumbling of the 
train. 

‘‘ It looks as if we were running right through the 
clouds,” said Jack to himself; “I can imagine we came 
right out of that heavy black mass yonder. Gad ! but 
that is terribly blinding,” as he closed his eyes upon the 
fierce light that was playing about the train. ‘‘Well I 
wish we would have a good rain, so as to cool it off a 
little ; I have been looking for this for a day or two. 

How in the world do those people sleep ? I am sure ” 

and then the shrill shriek of the engine was heard above 
the storm, and the sudden violent setting of the brakes 
threw Jack flat on his back. 

The next instant, he was hurled with great force against 
the side of the car, as it arose almost perpendicularly in 
the air and, with a deafening crash, fell upon its side 


136 PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 

under a great mass of heavy wood, iron, broken glass and 
a quantity of other debris. The situation was appalling, 
but not for a moment did Jack lose the use of any of his 
faculties. It flashed upon his mind at once that there 
had been a terrible accident, and as soon as the moment- 
um which had been forcing him along lost its power, he 
found himself on the hard ground, some little distance 
from the great shapeless mass of wreckage. Whether he 
had been thrown through an open window or some other 
aperture in the now badly broken car he could not tell ; 
but there he lay, untrammeled. 

As he arose to his feet, he found his left arm numb 
and powerless. This numb feeling quickly gave way to 
intense pain, and blood trickled down upon his hands 
from a cut of more or less seriousness ; but it was no 
time to think of his own wounds. 

The hissing steam from the crippled engine, the groans, 
prayers and curses of the poor mangled creatures still 
imprisoned in the wreck, or lying helpless by the side of 
the track, begging for death to come and end their suf- 
ferings, or blaspheming at their fate, as the case might 
be, all demanded immediate action. 

To add to the horror of the scene, the storm had broken 
upon them in all its fury. Peal upon peal of thunder 
increased the noisy confusion, while the vivid lightning 
constantly lit up the spectacle with a fiendish glare. 

Jack was among the first of those who were yet capable 
of action to enter upon the task of giving relief to their 
less fortunate fellow-travelers. He sought everywhere 
for the two girls who were his especial charge. His 
progress was very slow, stopping continually to lend a 
hand to some of the poor creatures, as he found them 
scattered everywhere among the broken fragments. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


'37 


The rain came down in torrents, making little pools 
and lakes all about them. A few who would have es- 
caped with slight injury, as soon as relief reached them, 
were drowned in the ditch beside the grade, being unable 
to extricate themselves, unaided, from the trucks and 
timber that held them imprisoned. 

Jack had labored manfully for some time, forgetful of 
his own pain in trying to relieve the sufferings of those 
about him. He had just bound up, as best he could, the 
wounds of a little lad who was terribly cut about the head 
and had laid him on a broken seat, sheltering him in a 
degree from the driving rain, when something cold touched 
his hand and a brave little voice spoke to him. 

“ Oh ! Mr. Jack, I have found you at last ! ’’ it said. 
“ Isn’t this awful ? Can’t you come with me to Minna I 
How did it happen 1 ” meaning the accident. “ I did all 
I could for her, and some big, kind man helped me ; but 
he said she was dead and those who were yet alive needed 
him.” 

“ Poor little Nellie, is it you indeed } ” cried Jack. 

Where did you leave Minna ? We must go back to her 
at once.” 

‘‘ Come on, I’ll show you the way ; it’s not far ; I hav^e 
only just left her and found you at once.” 

** Good God ! Nellie, be quick ; but what a state you 
are in, poor child ! Are you hurt anywhere ? ” 

Faithful little Nellie was indeed a pitiable-looking ob- 
ject. Clad only in her skirts, which clung about her 
dripping with water, her long curls hanging in matted 
strings from which the rain trickled down ; barefooted 
she trotted along, shivering with excitement and cold, as 
the temperature had fallen rapidly in the last few minutes 
since the storm began. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


13^ 

“ No, I don^t think I am hurt a bit,’’ chartered Nellie, 
“ but, oh ! you are, Mr. Jack ; your face is all cut and 
you are all blood. What can I do for yoCi ? ” 

‘‘It is nothing,” replied Jack, “and there is more of 
others’ blood than my own that you see on me. Do not 
fret about me, poor child ; only show me where Minna 
is, if your strength will stand a greater strain than has 
already been put upon it.” 

^WVhy, here she is, Mr. Jack. Oh, Jack, is she really 
dead ? ” 

I'he storm had been of short duration, although fierce 
while it lasted, and by this time it had passed over and 
beyond them ; the thunder muttered in the distance, as 
though angry at being forced away by some irresistible 
power. There were still feeble flashes of lightning, while 
the rain now fell to only a small degree. 

Nellie pointed to someone lying on a slight elevation 
at their feet, while Jack, seizing a brakeman’s lantern that 
fortunately lay near them unextinguished, knelt by the 
side of what proved to be Minna. Placing his ear upon 
her heart, he was overjoyed to find that it was beating 
quite distinctly ; a hasty examination failed to discover 
any abrasions upon any part of her body, so that the great 
hope was that she might not be hurt internally, but only 
stunned into unconsciousness. 

Leaving Nellie alone again with Minna for a few mo- 
ments, Jack hastily summoned assistance, and procuring 
some bedding that was more or less scattered about out 
of the sleepers, they carried the unconscious girl a little 
distance back from the road, to a comparatively dry spot, 
where the young doctor applied every device that he 
could think of to restore her to consciousness, but in 


vain. 


PROPERTY OF VON GILBAR. 


139 


A train had been telegraphed for to carry forward the 
wounded ; but it was some time before it arrived, a wreck- 
ing train being on hand much sooner. 

It seemed to those who had near and dear friends and 
relatives among the dead, dying and maimed, that the 
enterprise of the soulless corporation was more discern- 
ible in the expedition used to clear the tracks for future 
traffic than in caring for the sufferers. In this, possibly, 
their sympathetic hearts misled them, and no doubt 
everything was done that was possible in bringing aid 
(juickly. 

While standing by the side of a fellow-creature whose 
life blood was ebbing away from its mangled limbs, the 
intense pain calling forth heartrending groans that the 
night air carried for miles across and through the ravines, 
until the mournful sounds broke against the mountain 
sides and vanished among the rocks, it was only natural 
that the time should seem interminable before the assist- 
ance arrived which might save a life, or at least to a great 
degree lessen the awful suffering. 

It was nearly daylight before the special train was ready 
to start with its precious freight. Although Jack’s left 
arm was broken and his face badly cut in several places, 
he had worked continually, giving valuable assistance to 
the corps of physicians who had come down on the train, 
in amputating and setting broken limbs, stitching up ugly 
gashes and all the work attendant upon such a terrible 
catastrophe, refusing all offers of assistance in his own 
behalf until the train started and everything had been 
done that could be done for the other passengers. 

Just before leaving the scene of the disaster, by the aid 
of restoratives in the cases of the attending physicians, 
Minna had opened her wondrous eyes, but only to stare 


140 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


vacantly about her and sink again into a comatose con- 
dition. 

A fierce fever had set in, flushing her face to a scarlet 
hue, and her pulse rose rapidly. 

Jack feared the worst. 

The first opportunity that presented itself. Jack tele- 
graphed to Don, saying that the young man should meet 
them in person, because he would need his assistance 
upon reaching New York City and the only objection to 
Don’s presence was removed, as there was not the slightest 
danger of Minna’s recognizing anyone, if indeed the poor 
girl was alive by the time they reached their destination. 
They left the most of their fellow sufferers in Buffalo, 
taking the regular express fron there to New York. 

It was of little use to inquire or try to explain the cause 
of the accident. The air-brakes on the passenger train 
that had been demolished' had become useless early in 
the evening, so the train was running under orders to go 
through using the hand-brakes. This caused them to 
lose more or less time at each stop. This time they 
were trying to make up by an especial burst of speed, so 
that the train was running at the rate of sixty miles an 
hour when they crashed into a freight train ahead of them. 
The freight had been parted on a heavy grade, as the 
engine attached to it, although very powerful, was unable 
to pull the whole train up at one time. The rear end 
was standing motionless on the track, while the flagman 
had gone back a sufficient distance to stop the not un- 
expected express, had the air-brakes been working. 
Their being useless, however, could not have been antici- 
pated by the freight flagman : hence the accident. 

That was all ; but that “ all ” meant the ending of more 
than one vigorous life with a bright future ; it meant to 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


T4I 

Others the ending of their days in such a sad, maimed 
condition, that those who had been killed might have 
been regarded the more fortunate ; others must suffer for 
weeks or months, at best, while to others yet, who escaped 
unharmed in body, it meant a scar that never could be 
removed from their loving hearts, in that they had been 
bereft of those who were so dear to them. 

At 3 : 30 in the afternoon, on time, tlie Buffalo Express 
rolled into the depot at New York City. Jack was the 
first to step from the train, and as he did so, his eyes 
lighted almost instantly upon Don’s anxious face. 

Great God ! Jack, how thankful I am to see you,” 
said Don, as he ran up to him. “ I do not know how I 
have ever gotten through this day of anxiety. Tell me,, is 
she dead or maimed Where is she.^ Did you leave her 
and come on alone ? Tell me the worst ; I cannot stand 
it longer.” 

‘‘ Well, Don, I will not deceive you or build up any 
false hopes in your breast; Minna, for I know you mean 
her, is not dead, and she is here with us aboard the train. 
I have very little hope, especially as we have been unable 
to decide up to now just how or where she is hurt; but 
she is unconscious and has been so nearly all the time. 
We can’t talk more just now ; the train is about emptied ; 
so calm yourself and be a man. We will bring her out 
front on a stretcher, which I have with me in the baggage- 
car. A short way back I telegraphed for an ambulance, 
as I forgot to mention that in my message to you. 

‘‘ Now go on and see if the ambulance is waiting, and I 
will depend on you to decide where we will take her. It 
is necessary that she be taken where she will have perfect 
quiet.” And then Jack turned on his heel and walked 
off. 


142 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


A few minutes later, they carried Minna out into the 
street, while the police kept a passage open for them 
through the crowd which had gathered, it having become 
known in some way that some of the victims of the great 
railroad accident would arrive on the Buffalo Express. 

Carefully they laid her in the van, and, after Don had 
greeted little Nellie kindly, he called a carriage for her. Jack 
and himself, instructing the driver of the ambulance to 
follow them. They drove slowly across the city to the 
apartments Don had provided. 

The rooms were all that Jack, as a physician, could wish 
for, being quiet and airy. Dr. Lykin at once summoned 
one of the best physicians in the city to consult with him. 
The careful nurses had done their part in preparing 
and putting Minna to bed ; her long hair, brushed out and 
arranged in two long shining plaits, lay along the snowy 
pillows, while the flush had gone from her face, leaving it 
an ashy paleness. 

Jack hastily explained to Dr. Bristoe, the consulting 
physician, all the circumstances attending the case, 
together with a careful recital of the varied conditions and 
changes during the day. They spent an hour making a 
thorough examination and a minute diagnosis of the case, 
at the end of which time they decided on the course they 
would pursue, being, in their judgment, the only hope of 
saving the beautiful girl’s life. 

As Dr. Bristoe had become very much interested, he 
proposed to remain during the night, giving Dr. Lykin 
an opportunity to get some rest, which was imperative after 
all he had gone through, added to the pain he was suffer- 
his owing from his wounds. 

So Jack and Nellie drove to the Gilbar mansion, while 
Don remained ; he could not be persuaded to leave, and 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


143 


as their coming would receive more or less notoriety 
through the papers, it was decided that Jack should tell 
Maud and her mother all in regard to Minna, even to the 
circumstances of Don^s meeting with her and everything 
he knew, whether from what had been told him or his own 
observation. 

This would be decidedly the best, as it would take away 
all the mystery, whatever the future had in store for them 
— should Minna die, or by any chance live. 


144 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR, 


CHAPTER XL 

Just before Jack left the depot, he had written briefly 
to Maud and sent the note by special messenger, appris- 
ing her of their arrival and stating that he would be un- 
avoidably occupied for a time, with some passengers who 
were hurt in the wreck and had come on with them ; but 
at the earliest possible moment his duties would permit 
he would come at once to see her, and that she might 
expect him and Nellie in time for dinner. 

So Maud was at the window, watching, when they 
finally drove up to the door, and, a moment later, the 
faithful old footman ushered them in. Maud’s face 
beamed with joy as she rushed up to Jack, who could 
only embrace her with one arm ; however, he executed 
that happy privilege very creditably. 

“You poor, dear, old, battered-up darling! How 
grateful I am to see you alive. M'e have been worried 
sick since reading an account of the accident in the papers 
and receiving your vague telegram. How much are you 
hurt. Jack ? Is your hand cut, too ? or what is the matter 
with it ? ” 

Arm broken, sweetheart, that is all,” replied Jack. 

“ Broken ? and look how your face is all cut up ! Oh 1 
you look terrible,” and the tears began to show in Maud’s 
bright eyes, so that Jack, thinking to reassure her more 
quickly by turning her thoughts into another channel 
than he could by assuming that his wounds were trifling; 
besides feeling that some notice should be taken of little 


PROPEN TY OF DON GILBAR. 


145 


Nellie, as it was very embarrassing to the child to stand 
there and not receive some recognition, without inviting 
further comment upon his own condition, turned, and 
taking Nellie by the hand, said : 

“ Here, Maud, do not let us be so rude or selhsh. This 
is Miss Nellie Miller, who has come all the way from 
Iowa to see you, and I am sure you will love her very 
much, for she is a good, dear little lady, and worthy of 
all the affection that can be bestowed upon her. Miss 
Gilbar, Nellie.” 

1 am ever so glad you have come, Nellie. Dr. Lykin 
and Don have written so much about you that 1 feel I 
know you already. You must excuse us for being so 
thoughtless. When you fall in love and have a big lover 
of a man whom you haven’t seen for ages, especially if 
he should frighten you with dispatches that might mean 
the worst ; and then follow them by looking such an 
object of pity as this one does, you will understand how 
to pardon us, if you cannot do so now. Come, give me 
a good kiss and let us see if we cannot be like sisters to 
each other.” 

Nellie was at once put at ease by this, and entirely 
won by Maud’s kindly salutation. The nurses who were 
to care for Minna had tidied her up, so that she looked 
very sweet and pretty, as she replied : 

“You have nothing to excuse yourselves for. Miss 
Gilbar ; we all think Dr. Lykin is the best and nicest 
man in Iowa, and I am sure 1 do not wonder now that he 
fell in love with you ; nor do I believe what old Mrs. 
Vance said, that there are ‘plenty of young ladies in 

S County that would make Dr. Lykin a better wife 

than she knew that city girl would.’ You mustn't mind 
what Marm Vance says ; we all know her.” 1'his from 
10 


146 


PROPERTY OF DOA^ GILBAR. 


Nellie created a hearty laugh as Maud interrupted her 
with : 

‘‘I am afraid you are a little flatterer, and if you are 
going to think my Jack is so wonderful, I shall be very 
jealous. I thought it would be a dangerous experiment 
to allow him to travel so long with such a fascinating 
young lady, even though he never let me know that she 
had such a high regard for him, which has made my risk 
all the greater.’' 

“ Now I know you are only making fun of me,” put in 
Nellie. “ Dr. Lykin and I are excellent friends. I 
began liking him when he used to make me willow whis- 
tles at times when he came over to see papa about cattle 
deals, and of course I like him just as much yet ; but I 
don’t think he is anything compared to Mr. Don, your 

brother. Oh ! he is I can’t think of anything that 

will express enough when I try to describe Mr. Don.” 

“ Oh, ho ! ” said Maud, “ so the wind blows in that 
quarter.” 

“ See, Maud, if you get to worrying about any of the 
young ladies being impressed with me, all you have to do 
is to bring Don forward, and he will divert their attention 
very quickly,” laughingly interrupted Jack ; “ but here 
comes Mrs. Gilbar,” as that lady entered the room. 

“ How do you do, Mrs. Gilbar ? I am very sorry that 
I must present myself in such a battered condition, but 
‘ accidents will happen,’ and I feel very thankful that I 
am able to present myself at all.” 

‘‘ And so are we all very thankful to see you,” replied 
Mrs. Gilbar, “ for we have been much concerned about 
you all day; I suppose this is Nellie?” without waiting 
for the formality of an introduction, and as she gave her 
a motherly caress she continued, ‘‘You are very welcome 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


147 


to our house and I hope you will make yourself perfectly 
at home ; try to be just as contented and happy as you 
can. No doubt you are very tired, so if you wish, Maud 
will go with you to your room.” 

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Gilbar, I know I shall be happy 
here ; you are all so kind. I am very tired, and, if you 
will excuse me, I should like to rest a while.” 

Indeed you must be. Go with her, Maud,” continued 
Mrs. Gilbar, “ I will entertain Jack, somehow, for a little 
while.” 

So Maud started off with Nellie, explaining to her, 
“We got you the best maid we could find. I hope you 
will like her.” 

Nellie was growing a little confused when Maud began 
talking about her maid, but following out a line of policy 
decided upon before leaving home, she made no reply, 
trusting to understand the matter more fully later on. 

“ These are your rooms, Nellie. We cannot offer you 
much of a view from the window ; but see, here is a cozy 
little nook in the adjoining room, which shall be entirely 
yours, too. I have selected a few books which may 
interest you, and laid out one of my wrappers, thinking 
your baggage might not arrive for several days, if, in fact, 
you did not lose everything in the wreck. I will call 
Eugenie,” touching the bell, “ she will come right away 
and then I will leave you. And, dear, if you are tired, as 
I know you are, you need not dress again, nor come down 
to dinner ; we will excuse you this evening.” 

“ Oh, thank you. Miss Gilbar.” 

“ No, say Maud. Please do not let us be formal, in 
any way.” 

“Well then, Maud; I, too, like that better. You are 
so thoughtful and good to me, and if it is not necessary 


148 PROPERTY OP DON G I LEAR, 

for me to come downstairs again this evening, I should 
be so glad to rest right here. I have hardly slept since 
we left home, and my head aches terribly.” 

“ Indeed it must, poor child,’' said Maud. “ No, you 
stay right here and I will send you up a nice little lunch, 
and if you get a good night’s sleep, you will be as bright 
as a new dollar in the morning. Come in,” answering a 
knock at the door. “ Ah, here is Eugenie ; Eugenie, this 
is your little mistress. I feel your service will be light 
and pleasant with her.” 

“Comment vous portez-vous Mademoiselle,” re- 
sponded Eugenie, courtesying. 

“ I hope you will try to anticipate her wishes.” 

“Oui, Mademoiselle.” 

Then turning again to Nellie, Maud kissed her. “ Now 
I will leave you to Eugenie’s care ; but I will run up and 
see how you are getting on, after a while ; do not hesitate 
to send for me, if you want anything. Now try not to be 
homesick, and please do not cry yourself to sleep and 
spoil your pretty eyes.” 

“Good-night, Maud,” murmured Nellie. “You have 
spent more time with me now than I deserve ; so don’t 
try to come up again to-night. Mr. Jack needs you, and 
1 am sure as soon as 1 eat a little and drink a cup of tea, 
I shall go right to sleep. P2ugenie will attend to me 
nicely, 1 can tell by her good face ; so do not worry a 
minute about me. I promise I sha’n’t be homesick to- 
night, anyhow.” 

“ Well, then, I am off, and as I know you are so 
sleepy, I will not disturb you again until to-morrow, un- 
less you send for me.” 

“ As Maud started through the doorway, Nellie called 
her back, with : 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


149 


“If Mr. Don comes in, say good-night to him for me.” 

“ All right,” agreed Maud ; “ you go to sleep, you little 
rogue,” pinching her cheeks, “ and don’t bother your head 
about the boys to-night. 

“I wonder if the dear little thing has fallen in love with 
Don ? It’s no wonder, big handsome fellow ; but pshaw ! 
that is foolishness. The first thing that comes into my 
head, nowadays, is that everybody is in love with every- 
body else.” Maud said this to herself, as she tripped 
lightly through the halls and downstairs. 

Meanwhile, Eugenie was making Nellie comfortable, and 
the tired little lady presented a most winning picture, lying 
on a low divan before the open grate, in which a little 
fire had been started to take off the damp chill that per- 
vaded the rooms after the storm which had passed over 
the city, — enrobed in Maud’s pale blue wrapper, her long 
bright curls brushed back from her sweet face. 

Nellie had very quickly taken in the situation as to why 
they had provided her with a maid and to what use the 
valuable assistant should be put, and although accus- 
tomed to attending to her own toilet, entirely alone, she 
was very thankful to-night for someone in whose hands 
she could place herself, and thus be free from any exer- 
tion whatever. 

Eugenie was an exceptionally good attendant, fortu- 
nately, and she loved Nellie at once, so that she exerted 
herself most tenderly in the tired child’s behalf:' 

In time a tempting little lunch was sent up, and after 
partaking of a goodly portion, Nellie said : 

“ Eugenie, I think I will go to bed.” 

“ Tres-bon^ Mademoiselle. J\ii h'enter les drops, tout est 
pret^' and soon Nellie was tucked away comfortably in her 
soft bed. 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


150 

‘‘ Thank you, Eugenie ; good-night,” and the next mo 
inent her gentle breathing told that she was enjoying the 
much needed sleep. 

“ If I didn’t feel so much like crying, I would laugh. 
Jack. You look as though you had been on a terrible 
jamboree ; you are nothing like as handsome as you were, 
and that’s pretty hard on you ; but you know, dear, I am 
just as sorry for you as I can be.” This came from 
Maud. 

‘‘Oh, I know all about it. You are just running over 
with delight at my condition, because you think I will be 
compelled to siay in with you for a time, you heartless 
little witch, only you are ashamed to come right out and 
say so. Well, I acknowledge that it is a balm to me, when 
I think that I will have a good excuse for loafing about 
the house with you for a while.” 

The dinner was over, and Maud and Jack were at last 
left to themselves. Jack was comfortably fixed in a large 
easy-chair, while Maud sat on an ottoman, at his feet, 
with her arm resting on his knee, her animated face look- 
ing up into his. 

“ Now, what about Don ? ” inquired Maud. “ I know 
there is some reason for his absence to-night ; then, 1 
feel sure he has not told us the most important parts of 
his adventures in the West; besides, something tells me 
there is more to Nellie Miller’s coming than just because 
you and Don think her such a good child and wish us to 
entertain her. Indeed, Jack, I think I should know all 
about it.” 

“ Well, darling, I think, too, you ought to know all about 
it ; so if you will keep right still, I will tell you all that I 
know.” 

“ Of course I will keep still. The idea ! ” retorted 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


Maud, “ you are always telling me to keep still. I never 
say a word ; you do all the talking.’^ 

“ Well, that is all right If you will just listen, I will 
tell you about Don.” 

“ Well, am I not listening ? ” again interrupted Maud. 
“ 1 do think you can be so unkind when you try. Any 
stranger, to hear you, would think I never let you tell me 
anything, and couldn’t sit still and listen ; or else you do 
not want to tell me what I want to know about Don ; so 
you take this plan to exasperate me.” 

“ Maud, if you don’t keep quiet,” said Jack, “ I will 
call old George in and we will get something and gag you. 
I have an awful lot to tell you and I just will tell you.” 

“ Oh, well, if you are going to threaten me,” retorted 
Maud, ‘‘there is no use of my saying anything more.” 
And with a sweet little smile she nestled closer to her 
lover and with rapt attention listened to what Jack had to 
say. 

“You know, Maud, all about the great storrh and how 
we came to leave Don in the woods that night ; also Don 
has told you that he spent the long Winter in a cave that 
must be somewhere near father’s. How he reached the 
cave that awful night, none of us know, for Don does not 
know himself ; he can remember that he started after the 
team, in an aimless way ; he knows that he almost perished 
with the intense cold, and then for a time, he says he can- 
not tell for how long a time — whether it was hours, or 
weeks — he does not know what occurred ; but when he 
returned to consciousness, he found himself in a cave, the 
beauties of which I suppose he has described to you 
better than I could ! ” 

“Oh, yes,” broke in Maud, “ he has told me about it; 
and wasn’t it wonderful, Jack ? I could never imagine 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


152 

anything so strikingly gorgeous as what Don described. 
But how in the world, darling, could he live there all Win- 
ter ? Where did he get anything to eat ? that is what 1 
can’t understand.” 

“ That is just it,” replied Jack. “ When Don first told 
me about it, there were so many necessary features in the 
case unaccounted for, that I confess I could not credit 
his tale ; but in the light of subsequent events, I begin to 
believe his story is all true and that it cannot be called 
even highly colored. Now, you see, Don does not even 
know where this cave is, any more. He evidently just 
fell into it the night he was groping about in the snow, 
and the day he gained his freedom his delight was so 
great that it drove all other thoughts for the time from 
his mind ; so that he attached no importance to even at- 
tempting to leave a trail which could be followed back to 
his remarkable subterranean home. 

But now this is the important part, which I wish to sup- 
ply and which will make plain to you, as it did to me, a 
great many things in connection with Don’s adventure. 
When he came to himself, in the cave, he was not alone, 
but found himself in the company of a most beautiful 
woman, and this girl, it seems, provided sustenance for 
them both, and nursed Don back to health and strength 
from what, I have no doubt, was a tedious illness.” 

Maud was sitting up very straight now, with her eyes 
wide open. 

“Jack, that is very strange,” she said. “You don’t 
mean to tell me that some girl went into a cave, all alone, 
with a man — with Don — and took care of him } Who 
was she ? why did she not bring other aid ? Pshaw ! I 
don’t believe it; it doesn’t sound like Don to put up with 
such a thing, even if there are girls bold enough to do it. 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 153 

He has just been putting you off, Jack, with some fairy 
tale and we are not getting at the bottom of this yet.” 

“ But, Maud,” continued Jack, “ I believe it now, for I 
have seen the young lady ” 

“Young lady — lady did you say?” interrupted Maud. 

“Yes, lady, and I came on to New York with her.” 

“Jack Lykin, I am ashamed of you,” said Maud 
fiercely. “You might at least have thought of me, and 
that I expected soon to be your wife, before doing any- 
thing so questionable.” 

“ There now, Maud, hold on ; you women are so quick 
to judge your sex, and in this instance, as is so often the 
case, you do not know a thing of what you are talking 
about.” 

Here, again, Maud broke out with, “ Well, I guess I 
know — anybody would know.” 

“ Indeed, you do not know. Maud, do please keep 
still ; T am really very much in earnest and do not w'ant 
you to say another word until I have finished ; then, any 
comments you see fit to make will receive due considera- 
tion. I believe this young lady to be as pure and inno- 
cent as you are, and can think of no stronger comparison. 
I haven’t a shadow of doubt but that she took care of Don, 
just as he said she is capable of doing, and did all that he 
claimed she did. But, darling, the poor creature’s mind 
is affected in some way. Don has fallen violently in love 
w'ith her, which when you see her, some day, you will not 
think strange, if you are fortunate enough to ever see her 
alive.” 

“Is she dying?” asked Maud, her mind reverting in- 
stantly to the railroad accident, while Jack’s emphatic, 
confident words were making their impression on her, and 
gaining the sympathy from her that was desired. 


54 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ I trust not/’ went on Jack, but she was very seriously 
hurt, last night, and it will take some hours yet for us to 
conjecture the probable result.” 

Well, how did she happen to be coming to New York ? 
and why did you not all come together? Why did Don 
come first ? ” inquired Maud. 

“You see,” replied Jack, “it was this way; Minna, for 
that is her name, is violently in love with Don, or, more 
properly speaking, madly worships him, as only a being 
of her wildly romantic nature can. 

“ Now, do not lose sight of the fact that her brain is af- 
fected. After studying her, as I have, the only satisfac- 
tory conclusion I can come to is, that some time during 
her past life, of course we cannot judge when, she has 
met with some accident, in recovering from which certain 
tissues of her brain must have unnaturally united, or pos- 
sibly are lying in an abnormal position. Hence, while in 
many ways she is as others, yet some of her acts are 
strange and unseemly. 

“ Now for some reason which none of us know, after 
taking care of Don all Winter, she left him one day, intend- 
ing, probably, to be gone only a short time ; and it was 
while he was thus left all alone that Don accidentally dis- 
covered the way out of the cave. After that, some little 
time elapsed before we got together in the manner Don 
told you. Well, then, you see, Don didn’t say a word to 
me about Minna until one night about the time I was 
ready to start on here. 

“ Then he told me all about her. At the same time, he 
narrated his little adventure through which he met Nellie 
Miller. This was the same day of the evening I am talk- 
ing about. It was on Don’s mind, continually, to hunt up 
Minna, although at that time he supposed that she had 


PROPER TV OF DON GIlBAR. 1 5 5 

deserted him. Then Nellie told him about coming across 
some remarkable creature who was dazzlingly beautiful, 
at the same time queer, describing Minna to a dot. 
Through Nellie he found out that Minna was wild about 
him, and was wanting to find him. You remember that 
Don had been coaxing her all Winter to show him the way 
out of the cave and come on here to New York with him.” 

‘‘ I doivt remember it at all, Jack; you never told me 
that,” interrupted Maud. 

‘‘ Well, anyhow, that is what he did,” continued Jack. 
“Of course then Minna naturally supposed that as soon 
as Don escaped, he made right for the city; but, you 
see, ^Minna^s idea of the city was just about the same as 
yours is of Heaven. She supposed it was somewhere, 
but had no idea how to reach it.” 

“ Jack, I have a pretty good idea how to reach Heaven ; 
but of course that is not saying 1 am going that way,” 
put in Maud. 

“ Darling, won’t you please let me get through with 
this?” said Jack, impatiently. “I suppose Minna is 
some kind of a hermitess ; from her way of talking, 
one can almost feel sure she has spent much of her life 
among the Indians, and as they couldn’t give her informa- 
tion of any value in regard to reaching the cities, she 
came across Nellie, who was returning home with her 
father from Pleasantville, about a week before Nellie met 
Don. She proposed to Nellie that they two should make 
the journey East together. Nellie, like any child of her 
age, was right in for it ; only, when it came to the point 
of going, Nellie w'as about as incompetent as the other. 

“ So it was in asking Don to help them out that she 
happened to tell him at all about Minna. Well, then, 
Don was all along bent on getting Minna here, to New 


PROPERTY OF POA^ GILBAR. 


15^ 

York, for treatment; so here was his golden opportunity, 
Minna might not have been willing to come on alone, with 
me ; but after we arranged for Nellie’s coming, it was the 
most natural thing in the world and in fact just what 
Minna suggested herself, for Nellie to find them a guide ; 
so Nellie found me. 

Now then, had Don put in an appearance, we would 
more than likely have had great difficulty, if indeedit had 
been at all possible, in getting Minna to leave the Plains. 
As it was, we had no trouble, for she supposed we were 
going to find Don, which was the only incentive we could 
have offered successfully.” 

“ Oh, yes. Jack, I begin to see through it all now,” 
said Maud. “ Poor, dear girl ! And do you think her 
mind will be entirely restored to her Is she hurt so 
very seriously What can I do, darling ? Tell me, may 
I go and nurse her ? Where is she now ? ” 

“You are a good little soul, when your heart speaks,” 
replied Jack, “ and we will see to-morrow what there is to 
be done. Don has engaged lovely rooms for her, where 
she will be comparatively quiet. He is there now and 
I suppose will remain all night. Dr. Pristoe is with 
her and will also remain to watch the case carefully. I 
wish I could be there myself, although everything will 
be done that can be, and it is just about a physical im- 
possibility for me to do more until I gain some rest. 
They have some trained nurses for Minna, and we can 
only hope for the best. Now you would better tell your 
mother all I have been telling you. And really, darling, 
I have been keeping up only by a great effort the last 
hour, and much as I dislike to leave you, I must go to 
my hotel and to bed, or I will have a fever the next 
thing,” 


PROPERTY OF DON On.pAR. 


^57 

“Yes, go, Jack, right away. How I wish we were so 
situated that I could help you and take care of you to- 
night ! ” Maud said this with a little blush. “ I won^t 
ask you to come too early to-morrow ; sleep just as late 
as you can in the morning. Only mind, do not go any- 
where else before you come here.” 

“ I won’t,” promised Jack, “ and I do not fear but that I 
will be feeling pretty comfortable to-morrow. Good-night, 
darling. I hope you will sleep well and that all this ex- 
citement won’t prove too much for you.” 

“ Good-night, dear,” murmured Maud, as she stood on 
tiptoe and gave him a long, fervent kiss. 


PROPER TV OF DON GlLBAR, 


^ 5 ^ 


CHAPTER XIL 

What a long, dreary night it had been ! Dr. Bristoe 
migrated from the sick room to Don, and back again. 
Hiere seemed to be no suffering in Minna’s gentle 
breathing ; but for the even regular swelling and sinking 
of her lovely bosom, she would have appeared as dead to 
those watching so intently. But now the night watch was 
drawing to an end ; the milk wagons, the first harbingers 
of day in the great cities, were heard rattling over the 
stony streets. 

“ Will there hot be a change of some kind, doctor, soon, 
at daybreak ? said Don, as the great physician sat down 
by his side. 

The doctor was drying the superfluous coffee from his 
handsome beard, having just partaken of a strong cup of 
his favorite beverage. Then, lighting a cigar, he replied : 

“ Can’t tell much about it, Mr. Gilbar ; the poor girl 
may remain in her present earns condition for several 
days, or she may awaken at any time ; can’t say, Mr. 
Gilbar, can’t say.” 

“ Well, but you must have some idea,” urged Don, 
impatiently. Why do you not say that her life is quietly 
ebbing away ? Why do you try to deceive me If you 
know it, why not tell me that it is not the chill of the 
morning air that is freezing the very marrow in my bones, 
but it is the breath of death that is filling the house t 
My God ! why did I not die in the snow before I ever 


PROPERTY OF DORT GILBAR. 1^9 

saw her? ” and Don bowed his head upon his hands and 
gave way to his grief without restraint. 

The long, inactive vigil, keeping his feelings under con- 
trol by sheer force of will, had been too much for Don, so 
that he no longer attempted to hide his sorrow. 

“Tut! tut! man, what is all this foolishness? Come 
now, ‘ while there is life, there is hope’; and I will tell 
you, although it is not professional to do so, I believe the 
girl will live, if we can only keep her quiet. She must 
have been under a great pressure of excitement before 
the accident ; now her brain and will power seem to be 
thoroughly inactive, nor does her blood circulate naturally, 
noticeable by her being so flushed at times and then 
becoming so pale. Now any sudden jar or noise would 
be almost sure to send the blood all to her head, or heart, 
either of which* would prove fatal at this juncture ; but 
if we can keep everything perfectly still, until her facul- 
ties become animated, there is no reason why she should 
not recover. 'bhe only question is, has she vitality 
enough to hold all her faculties intact, until they gradually 
resume their natural functions? and I believe she has. 

“ Now, then, that is more than I have ever said about 
any of my patients, and I have had many in a much less 
critical condition ; so if you do not pull yourself together 
at once and cheer up, I will think you ungrateful and my- 
self an old fool for wasting so much valuable breath.” 

‘‘How can I thank you, Doctor?” replied Don. “I 
confess I showed great weakness, but you do not know all 
she is to me, nor how she saved my life.” 

“ Don’t I ? ” was the doctor’s laconic rejoinder. 

By this time, although still quite early, the busy hum 
of the city was beginning to be heard ; steam whistles 
sounded in the distance ; and the tramp of the early 


100 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


bread-winners was carried to the ears of the weary 
watchers from the pavement below, as they hurried to 
their various posts of duty. 

As the piercing cry of the irrepressible newsboy was 
wafted on the morning air, Don slipped quietly down to 
the street and, motioning to an officer only a short dis- 
tance away, that indispensable guardian of “ public 
safety came to him, and proffering the distinguished 
personage a “ gold eagle,” which the dignity of his 
office did not prevent his accepting, Don explained that 
there was a lady at the point of death in the house before 
which they were standing and respectfully requested that 
a special officer be detailed to keep the block as quiet as 
possible, until he could apprise them that it would be no 
longer necessary. 

“Let us have a man of tact and judgment, and we will 
reward him well ; here is my card.” 

The potency of the retainer already given, coupled with 
the name of Gilbar, had the desired effect instantly. 

“Certainly, sir, we will keep the street as quiet as a 
grave-yard,” the officer eagerly assured Don. “ 1 will try 
to have myself detailed and would suggest that we put on 
another man, so that both ends of the block may be 
guarded.” 

“ Do so,” replied Don, “ I leave the matter entirely with 
you. Attend to your duty well, and you may be sure of a 
generous reward.” 

Feeling that he had taken all the precautions that 
he could for the present, Don stepped back into the 
house. 

By this time it had grown quite light, and Don sat down 
to wait impatiently for some change, which he felt must 
come with the day. The doctor, too, evidently was antici- 


PROPERTY OP DON GJLBAR. i6i 

pating something, for he kept in close attendance upon 
liis patient. Don could hear that there were at least two, 
possibly all three, of the nurses in the adjoining room with 
the doctor, 'hheir muffled movements, the slight but 
distinct creaking of the furniture at times, all denoted that 
some change was going on. In about an hour (it seemed 
much longer than that to Don) Dr. Bristoe again came to 
him. 

“ Well } said Don. 

‘‘ I have changed her position entirely, to one that I 
think will be better now,” replied the doctor; ‘M also 
have administered a potion that Dr. Lykin and I decided 
upon last evening, in case it was necessary. It will be 
about an hour before we can have the full effect, so there 
can be no change much before that time, and you would 
better go out, Mr. Gilbar. Get a breath of fresh air, and 
take something for your Stomach ^s sake, both solid and 
liquid ; be your own judge as to what it shall be.” 

But, Doctor ” began Don. 

‘‘There are no ‘buts^ about it,” said the physician; 
“ you are not a bit of use here. I am going to catch a 
little sleep, so there will be no one for you to talk to, and 
I assure you no change can occur in our patient in less 
than forty or fifty minutes, anyhow. Now not another 
word ; I donff want to be bothered.” And the old doctor 
stretched himself upon a broad, low sofa in the room, and 
seemed to be asleep instantly. 

Partly because bethought it would occupy his mind for 
a short time and thus lessen the suspense, and partly 
because he felt that he would need sustenance before 
the day was over, Don put on his hat and followed the 
doctor’s advice. 

It was yet early when Dr. Lykin ran up the steps of 


i 62 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


the house in which Minna lay, her life suspended by a 
slender thread. Jack was feeling much better than he 
expected to ; he had rested very well all night. Only a 
small ligament in his arm had been broken, and while of 
course it pained him somewhat, it did not amount to much 
for a strong man. His face, too, was rather stiff and 
sore, making it somewhat difficult for him to eat his break- 
fast; but these cuts on his face were also slight; and, 
taking it all in all, he expressed himself as feeling, tip 
top.’^ Jack had stopped a few moments at No. — Fifth 
Avenue, to tell Maud how well he was feeling and to in- 
quire how she and Nellie had passed the night. 

‘‘ Oh, I didn’t sleep much,” Maud had said. “ Seeing 
you again, darling, and everything made me restless, I 
guess. I have a little headache, but think it will soon 
pass away. Nellie, dear child, is still asleep and I don’t 
think I will disturb her.” 

“ No, let the poor little thing have a good rest,” Jack 
advised. 

‘‘ You will let me know what has been the result 
as soon as you have seen Dr. Bristoe, won’t you, Jack } ” 
continued Maud. 

‘‘ Yes ; I will send you word at once,” Jack assured her, 
and I must be going right along now, darling, for I am 
anxious.” 

So am I anxious,’! said Maud, and I won’t keep you 
a minute longer.” 

Then they said good-bye, and the young doctor hurried 
away. 

When Jack passed into the outer room, where Dr. 
Bristoe was sleeping, he did not stop to awaken the 
physician, but walked quietly on into Minna’s presence. 
His quick, practical eye told him instantly that all was 


PROPERl^Y OF DON G/LBAR. 163 

going well. Turning to the nurse, who was sitting by the 
bedside, he plied her with a few rapidly whispered in- 
quiries. Her low answers were apparently entirely satis- 
factory to the young doctor. He then turned out the 
lights that were still burning, and, going to the windows, 
noiselessly threw wide open the blinds ; as the room was 
filled with the broad light of day. Jack again turned to the 
bedside, and scanning Minna’s features closely for a few 
moments, he spoke to the nurse hurriedly. “ Go into the 
next room and arouse Dr. Bristoe ; tell him to come here 
instantly.” In a very few minutes Dr. Bristoe was by his 
side. 

“ See,” said Jack to him, “ the reaction has set in at 
last ; she is regaining consciousness. Look how her eye- 
lids quiver, her lips are parting; note the nostrils, how 
distended they are ; and her breathing is becoming 
labored. Now, now. Doctor, look 1 ” 

The feeble rays of the morning sun were just breaking 
through the mist and smoke ; one bright line of light fell 
across the bed, as Minna slowly opened her wondrous blue 
eyes, while a faint smile parted the thin lips. 

The two physicians held their breath. 

The least word spoken, or hasty movement, might 
startle her and the effect prove fatal. 

The color was coming into her cheeks ; a rosy tint was 
spreading from her temples down to her beautiful throat 
and neck : the eyes were getting brighter and seemed to 
be shining with intelligence and reason. Presently she 
attempted to move uneasily and turn her face towards the 
light; then, in a low, calm voice, she murmured : 

“ Where am I ? Is papa here ? ” 

“Thank God,” burst from Dr. Lykin’s lips as he 
turned his head away, overpowered with thankfulness. 


164 


PROPERTY OF DON C/LB A R. 


This was not the voice with which he had always heard 
Minna speak; it was weak and low, but instantly, Jack, 
who was familiar with her immediate past, felt that there 
had been a change, and that it was a perfectly rational 
mind that was directing the scattered thoughts and few 
spoken words. 

Dr. Bristoe answered Minna : 

“ You are at home, child, and papa will come presently. 
He has grown tired watching over you, for you have been 
very sick ; but you are all right now and will soon be 
about, as usual. Papa said when you awakened, we should 
give you this little nourishment and then you must go to 
sleep again.” 

‘‘ Dear papa ! But this doesn^t look like home,” began 
Minna. 

“There, now,” remonstrated the doctor, “ you mustn’t 
talk another bit. Come, come, drink this ; it will do you 
good ; then to-morrow you can talk all day, if you feel 
like it.” 

The kindly old doctor gently supported Minna’s lovely 
head as he offered her a well-filled glass from which she 
drank obediently. 

“There now, that’s a good girl! Do not worry your 
head about anything, but sleep all you can.” 

For some time Minna lay there, looking about her in a 
troubled, mystified way ; but she did not seem inclined to 
talk further. During the entire day she remained quiet, 
dozing at intervals. 

After administering the draught. Dr. Bristoe had called 
one of the nurses to the bedside and then retired to the 
other room with Dr. Lykin. They found Don quietly 
waiting for them, and to his inquiry as to the status of the 
case. Dr. Bristoe emphatically announced : 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 165 

There is no reason, Mr. Gilbar, why the young lady 
shouldn’t recover very rapidly.” 

“ Has she regained consciousness ? has she spoken } ” 
queried Don, excitedly. 

‘‘Hush,” said Jack, “don’t you know any better than 
to talk so loud. Everything depends on keeping her 
quiet, and unless you can control yourself, you would 
better go away. Minna has both regained consciousness 
and spoken, and, as Dr. Bristoe says, if we are only care- 
ful and do not startle her in any way, we will have her all 
right and out in a few days.” 

“I suppose you can’t tell how soon I may see her.^” 
asked Don, speaking this time hardly above a whisper. 

“ No, we cannot tell that,” replied Jack, “but I do not 
think it will be very long. And Don, old man, I believe 
as soon as she is up and gains a little strength her mind 
will be perfectly clear and rational — don’t you, Doctor ? ” 
turning to his senior. 

“ Certainly it will ; it is just about as you said, Lykin ; 
some of the tissues of her brain have been in an abnormal 
condition, or some sulcus may have been clotted with 
blood. Something of that kind has impaired her intel- 
lect, numbing the delicate intuition of which she should 
have been possessed, while in other respects her mind 
may have been as clear and bright as anyone’s, or even 
unusually developed. 

“ Now I believe the shock that she passed through, very 
likely coming in contact with some obstruction in a forci- 
ble manner, has removed this cause, whatever it has been. 
Certainly I might be able to offer a more tangible solu- 
tion of the whole matter had I seen the patient before ; 
now all I find from personal observation is a magnifi- 
cently developed woman recovering from a severe shock 


i66 


PROPERTY OP DON G I LEAR. 


and suspended animation, who, upon regaining conscious- 
ness, has the light of perfect reason shining from her eyes ; 
so that it is very difficult for me to explain an affliction 
that I do not find.’’ 

To all this Don listened with rapt attention. That his 
fond hopes were very possibly to be realized, and that so 
soon, was almost too good to be true. 

“Now I tell you, Don,” continued Jack, “you may as 
well go home and tell Maud of the bright prospects. I 
should talk to her freely. You will find that she will be 
in accord with your feelings and offer you ready aid and 
sympathy for the future.” 

“Then you have told her everything? ” inquired Don. 
“ How did she take it ? Did she seem to understand and 
appreciate Minna’s situation ? ” 

“Yes, I think so,” replied Jack, “for I told her hastily 
all I could about your meeting and our several relations 
to Minna, and last night, as well as this morning, there 
seemed to be nothing in her head or heart but pity for the 
poor girl and a desire to do all she could for her.” 

“Maud is a trump !” ejaculated Don. “She always 
would do anything in the world for me, and she is safe 
enough to stick to me now.” 

“Yes, that’s it,” said Jack; “so let me take charge 
here to-day, and you go and entertain the girls ; take a 
ride with Nellie and Maud in the park this afternoon ; 
show Nellie around a little. Do not overlook the fact 
that the child has done you an inestimable favor. Her 
assistance we might say has largely been rendered unwit- 
tingly ; at the same time we might never have gotten 
Minna here to New York had it not been for Nellie.” 
Right here Dr. Bristoe interrupted Jack with : 

“ Gentlemen, T think my services can be dispensed with 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 167 

now, and as you know I have a large practice and duties 
which are imperative calling me elsewhere, you will ex- 
cuse me, I know. 

“ If the case should take a change that we do not now 
anticipate and I can be of any further assistance to you. 
Dr. Lykin, just send for me and I will respond as 
promptly as possible ; but I really think there will be very 
little needed now, save perfect quiet and careful nursing ; 
and pardon me for saying that even should new complica- 
tions arise, I believe you to be abundantly able to cope 
with them ; so I bid you good-morning, gentlemen.’^ 

“ Thanks, Doctor,^’ replied Jack ; “ you are very com- 
plimentary. I also personally appreciate your close and 
careful attention to our patient, especially as I believe 
you do not regard it as having been a very serious case 
after all. If I can be of the slightest service to you at 
any time, I shall take it as an honor if you will call on 
me. Good-bye, sir,” grasping him by the hand. 

“ Good-bye, Doctor,” said Don, stepping up. “ Send 
me your bill ; and I cannot think of words that would be 
adequate to express my heartfelt thanks for the great 
services you have rendered.” 

Do not be concerned about my charges, Mr. Gilbar,” 
laughed the doctor ; “they will come in good time, and I 
am sure I wish you every success and happiness.” In 
another moment the doctor was gone. 

“You are going to remain here, are you not, Jack?” 
asked Don. 

“ Certainly I am,” responded Dr. Lykin. “ I think I 
shall arrange to sleep here for a few days. Of course we 
cannot tell yet how this is all going to turn out, nor just 
what Minna will do, nor how she will act as she regains 
her strength. But you go home and occupy your mind as 


1 68 PKOPER PY OF DON GILBA K. 

best you can. I will keep you posted as to every change 
that may occur, and should Minna ask for you and we 
think it advisable, we will send for you.'’ 

‘‘All right. Jack, I suppose there is no use of my stay- 
ing here, and my mind will rest easy because I know 
Minna is in such good hands ; so I will get home and 
try to help the girls have a good time, for I feel pretty 
good myself at the way everything seems to be turning 
out.” 

“ That’s it, Don ; go right along. Tell Maud I shall 
try to see her a little while this evening and then can 
bring you word of how Minna has passed the day.” 

In a week’s time Minna seemed to have recovered en- 
tirely. She was in the best of spirits and apparently ac- 
cepted her surroundings as a matter of course. After the 
first day or two she made no inquiry of any kind as to 
how she happened to be living in her magnificent apart- 
ments. All her past life seemed to be entirely oblit- 
erated from her mind. Dr. Lykin repeatedly inquired 
as to who her parents were, but she seemed to know 
absolutely nothing prior to the few days since she had 
recovered. Finally, as she seemed to be thoroughly well, 
Jack thought that he would startle her into some recollec- 
tion, or, if possibly she was assuming this indifference 
to the past, he might, by taking her unawares, catch 
her off her guard. They had just returned from a 
short walk. Minna was looking the very picture of mag- 
nificent health. 

“ Miss Queen — ” began Jack. They were calling her 
“ Miss Queen ” almost entirely now. This came about 
by one of the nurses asking Don the day he engaged her 
what was the name of the lady he was expecting, and 
Don, hardly knowing what to answer, had said, “ She is 


PROPER TV OF DON G/LBAR. 169 

a queen and must have the best of everything ; ” so the 
girl, supposing that Queen was some great family name, 
told the other nurses it was Miss Queen, and they were 
all rapidly falling into the habit of so addressing her. 

Minna, I met an old friend of yours to-day — young 
Gilbar. He told me all about your caring for him last 
Winter in the cave out in Iowa, and how kind you were to 
him. He is very anxious to redeem his promise to you, 
if you would only come to New York. Now you are 
here, he wishes to see you at once — to-day.” 

The expression of Minna’s face never changed while 
Jack was talking, and as he paused for her reply, she 
said, in the most indifferent way : 

“ Doctor, 1 am sure I do not know what you are talk- 
ing about. What cave ? Where is Iowa ? and who is 
this Gilboy, or what is his name ? ” 

“Oh, come now, Miss Queen, do not hesitate to talk 
to me. Have I not done all in my power to prove myself 
a true friend to you Besides, this Mr. Gilbar is one of 
my best friends, and a capital fellow. His sister and I 
are expecting to be married in the fall. See how I make 
a confidant of you. 

“ Now tell me all about why you left your ‘ Sun ’ as you 
called him, when little Nellie and I saw you on the plains. 
“ You asked me to help you find him ; now I have done 
so, why do you feign ignorance ? 

Minna only shook her head and began to look troubled. 

“ You really hurt me by such unkindness, and if you 
persist in acting so, then I am done with you, and you 
may work out your own salvation. That is all I have to 
say and I mean it.” 

Having apparently relieved himself, Jack stretched out 
his long, ungainly legs, placed the tips of his fingers 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


170 

together, holding them about a foot from his face, and 
assumed as angered an expression as it was possible for 
the good-natured fellow to do. 

Minna was visibly affected. The beautiful girl sat 
motionless a moment, then, coming to Jack’s side, she 
knelt pitifully, her upturned eyes filled with unshed tears. 
At all times it taxed the combined strength of her innu- 
merable hair pins to their utmost to hold the weight of her 
wonderful tresses, and now, after her walk, removing her 
hat and sinking with such utter abandon at Jack’s feet, the 
silken masses broke from their confinement and fell down 
and far out upon the rug, rippling and curling like the fleecy 
spray and foam upon the seashore. Her delicate, taper- 
ing fingers were interlocked over Jack’s shoulders and 
supported lightly the weight of her graceful body. 

“ Dr. Lykin, do not leave me ; pity me. What could I 
do without you ? You are my only friend, save the kind 
attendants who have served me so faithfully. What have 
I done to anger you ? By my soul, by my heart,” placing 
one lovely hand upon her panting bosom, “ I swear it, I do 
not know of what you are telling me. Bring your friends 
to me ; I will welcome them with open arms, for I am so 
lonesome. I shall love your wife always for all you have 
done for me. Your friends shall be my friends ; but again 
I say I know nothing of what you have asked me. You I 
never knew, until here in this room, and the others I never 
heard of, save from your lips. 

Tell me you will not be angry with me ; tell me you 
will not turn me out.” 

‘‘ So this is the poor, sick girl, who is in such a critical 
condition that no one must see her ? ” said a rich con- 
tralto voice, pitched rather high and laden with anger. 

Its owner. Miss Maud Gilbar, had been urging her 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


171 

lover every day for the past week to take her to see his 
beautiful patient. 

‘‘No,” the young doctor said, “wait. Miss Queen 
is doing wonderfully well ; but I wish her mind to 
strengthen.” In a day or two, — to-morrow — Maud and 
Don both should see her. 

And so it had gone on, until Miss Maud’s patience 
gave out — she had not such a large stock to draw from. 
So she decided to call on the fair patient on her own 
responsibility ; and lo ! what a spectacle was presented 
to her scintillating eyes. 

Like a flash the thought rushed through her brain that 
Jack had been false to her, as well as that he had de- 
ceived Don ; and truly, at a glance, appearances were all 
against Jack. 

The name of Gilbar had gained her easy admission to the 
apartments, as it was Don who employed all the servants ; 
then, too, there had been nothing mysterious about the 
actions of any of the inmates of the house, nor had there 
been any instructions as to who should be admitted. 

As the attendant had not noticed Jack and Minna’s 
return, she had ushered Maud right into their presence, in 
time to hear the last few pleading words ; although the 
servant had told Miss Gilbar that Miss Queen was not 
in, but was expected every minute ; would she “ step in 
and wait ” 

“ Oh no,” went on Maud, excitedly, “ he need not turn 
you out on my account, although it is only what those of 
your ilk deserve. Fie upon you, Dr. Lykin ! that you 
could ever have been so false and base, so contemptible, 
revelling in your wantonness, drawing upon the bounties 
of another by the grossest deceit ! How have you dared 
to come to me, tainted with the heated breath of your 


1J2 


PROPER 7 V OP VON GILBAR, 


liaison ? My God ! why did I ever look upon your hate- 
ful face ! I scorn you ; so I wipe the corruption of this 
polluted place from my shoes.” 

Viciously Maud ground her little heels into the meshes 
of Minna’s golden hair, that fell all about her, then turn- 
ing, she strode from the room in a towering passion. 

Stunned by this brief tirade, Jack and Minna had re- 
mained motionless, just as Maud found them ; but now 
Jack sprung to his feet to rush after her : 

“ Stay,” cried Minna, clinging to his hand, as he dragged 
her from the floor. “ What is all this, what does it all 
mean ? ” 

“.Wait, Minna, let me go ; it is all a mistake. Wait 
here for me.” 

“ I must go with you,” insisted Minna. 

“ No, stay where you are,” and Jack hurled her from 
him as he sprang out of the door and down the stairs. 

As he reached the pavement, Maud was just entering 
her carriage ; pushing the footman aside. Jack grasped 
Maud’s arm, saying : 

“ Maud, let me explain.” 

“ Do not touch me, sir,” retorted Maud, “ never insult 
me by addressing me again. I have a brother who will 
receive a double explanation.” 

“But it is all a mistake,” urged Jack; “you must 
listen ; I will not let you proceed until you hear me.” 

“ Officer,” called Maud, to a policeman standing near, 
“ arrest this man ; he is annoying me.” 

“Great God ! Maud, and this from you ! ” cried Jack, 
as the officer placed his hand upon Jack’s shoulder. 

“Come with me, sir,” the policeman said, as Maud’s 
carriage rapidly disappeared down the street. 

“ I do not think you understand the matter, my good 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


173 

man,” Jack said, controlling himself by a great effort, and 
quietly pressing a crisp note into the officer’s hand. 

“ Oh, yes, I do, young fellow,” that worthy replied ; 
“ that’s all right ; I wish you better luck next time ; sorry 
I happened to be passing.” 

Jack’s second and calmer thoughts told him it would 
be useless to jump into a cab and follow Maud: better 
wait until she had regained her self-possession ; so he 
turned back into the house. Minna was waiting trem- 
blingly for him. 

“ Now, Doctor, tell me what I have done. What did 
that angry woman mean ? ” 

‘‘ You have done nothing wrong, poor girl. Come, sit 
down and let me tell you how this horrible mistake was 
possible, and at the same time, perhaps, I can aid your 
memory, for I believe you are honest in saying you know 
nothing of the past.” 

Jack then told her the whole story ; how he first met 
Don, then Maud ; how he loved her and how they became 
engaged, also about Don’s going West and being lost in 
the storm ; how Minna cared for him, and Minna’s meet- 
ing with Nellie and afterwards with himself ; their com- 
ing on to New York; the accident. and all; only not 
stating that Don and Minna were supposed to have any 
especial attachment for each other. 

Minna listened to it all, interested in one part equally 
with another ; in one incident no more, no less, than all 
the rest. When Jack had finished, Minna sat for a time 
in deep thought, then rousing herself, she began talking 
first about what was evidently uppermost in her mind. 

‘‘ Doctor, I am so glad that is all. I will go to your 
Maud at once and tell her how good you have been to me, 
how noble you are and how much you love her, and ” — 


174 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


with a merry little laugh — ‘‘ how you and I do not love 
each other ; that it was far from a lovers’ quarrel she saw. 
I am only sorry we have caused her pain for even a little 
while. Yes, I must go now.” 

And the beautiful girl began to dexterously replace her 
hair, in a great shining coil, upon her head, preparatory 
to going out. 

“No,” said Jack, “it would be useless for you to go; 
for you to see Miss Gilbar now would only bring down 
insults upon your innocent head, if indeed you gained, 
perchance, admission to her presence.” 

“ But I would explain it all to her. There is nothing 
hard to tell. It will make her happy to know the truth. 
Please let me go ? ” 

“ No, no, Minna, I know best. A meeting just now 
would not do either of you justice. I must settle this 
matter ; I alone can do it.” 

So Minna gave it up and let Jack fight his own battles. 

And then Minna insisted she could remember nothing 
of the accident, of meeting Jack and Nellie, nor anything 
of her past life ; it had undoubtedly all gone from her. 

“ Sometimes, Doctor, I can remember the farms and 
the cattle, the big fields that were filled with flowers ; but 
I must have been a little girl then ; and then I keep 
thinking and thinking how I have all at once grown up, 
and am here ; and I get so bothered, I just stop thinking 
about it ; and so long as you are so good to me, and I 
have everything, why need I think? It must haye been 
just as you said. Doctor, but I don’t remember.” 

“Well, Minna, it may come to you in time ; be assured 
I will never leave you helpless.” 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


175 


CHAPTER XIIL 

‘‘ Why, Maud, what in the world is the matter ? I have 
been hunting everywhere for you, and now I find you cry- 
ing as though your heart would break ! Are you sick ? 
Does your tooth ache ? ” 

Nellie Miller, transplanted into the heart of the fash- 
ionable Gilbar family, had taken root there and flourished 
and grown until, in a short time, she seemed to be a part 
of them ; and having sought Maud the house over, she 
found her in the conservatory, crying bitterly : hence her 
solicitude as to the cause. 

“ Boo-hoo ! boo-hoo ! boo-hoo ! was all that came 
from Maud. 

“ What is it, Maudie ? Let me help you. Tell me what 
hurts you so.’’ 

“ Oh, why was I ever born ? ” sobbed the broken-hearted 
girl. “ If I could only die ! Oh, Nellie, may you never 
be trodden upon as I have been ! Oh ! oh ! oh ! ” 

‘‘ Well there, pet, don’t cry any more. Come, put its 
head in Nellie’s lap.” 

And true-hearted little Nellie, with a woman’s tact, in 
a short time had soothed Maud sufficiently so that she 
could tell her what had been the cause of her bitter 
weeping. 

“ Now look here, Maud, I just know you are making a 
big fuss about nothing. Jack and Minna are all right, Tm 
sure they are,” began Nellie. 


176 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ All right ! ” interrupted Maud, her indignation rising 
as the scene came back to her anew. Do you call it all 
right for a beautiful girl to be lying in the arms of your 
fiance, her hair all down her back and you cannot tell 
the full extent of her dishabille, and she pleading with 
him not to leave her.? Do you call that all right .? 

“But it is all in keeping with the way Jack has been 
acting all the week, and oh, Nellie, I loved him so.’’ 

Here poor Maud broke down again. After this, though, 
Maud’s pride came to her rescue, and no matter how her 
heart was bleeding, she gave no outward sign. 

Don was told the whole circumstance, and his first 
impulse was to murder the young doctor. Then, rising 
above this brute feeling, he sent his agent to pay all 
bills to date, then close the house and turn the inmates 
out. 

It was a bitter blow to Don, striking at his great love 
for Minna, as well as his confidence and tender affection 
for Jack. Undoubtedly he would have rushed into all 
manner of dissipation, but just at this time Mr. Gilbar, 
senior, was taken very sick and Don, from carrying 
instructions given by his father to the office, was soon 
plunged into the abyss of a massive, surging business. 

When aroused and the emergency required, Don had 
plenty of ability, and his cool head grasped the ever- 
changing situation in a remarkable manner. 

Although a new hand was at the helm of the great 
financial ship, she swept along as majestically as before. 

Don’s heart was clear and cold as flinty ice ; he was 
just in the mood for fearless operations. Soon it was 
whispered about the Street, “Young Gilbar is a worthy 
.son of his father,” as he conducted a few minor deals that 
redounded to the credit and profit of his concern. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


T77 

Then he quietly negotiated loans of large blocks of 
money in every direction, going beyond his own city as 
well; he placed as collateral, in addition to the great 
name of his father, some of the most solid securities 
they possessed. Thus he was able to borrow an incred- 
ible amount. 

Acting by his directions, his brokers openly bought a 
few hundred thousands of various stocks that had no real 
value nor earning power; but the Gilbars were buying, 
and there must be something in them. So from all 
directions, abroad as well as at home, came big orders for 
the different investments. Naturally, stocks went up. 
In three days his brokers came to him, urging him to 
make the turns. 

‘‘ Sell at once, Mr. Gilbar, this cannot last ; there is 
nothing to these shares only wind. You have worked it 
well and we can realize a very handsome profit.” 

“ Gentlemen, I believe I am managing this ; please fol- 
low my instructions and do not annoy me with your ad- 
vice,” was Don’s reply ; so they went away, shaking their 
heads. 

Young Gilbar is flushed ; he is too young yet. Well, 
he can lose but a trifle for them ; 1 guess it won’t be 
more than fifty thousand or so ; they. won’t notice that 
and the young man must learn somehow.” 

In an hour the stocks in question began to decline ; by 
afternoon there had been a sharp fall, when young Gilbar 
walked leisurely into his agents’, office. They were ex- 
pecting him and, taking Don eagerly by the arm, told 
him : 

“ You are just in time, Mr. Gilbar ; we told you it was 
coming; you mustn’t expect too much at once. \V)ur 
scheme was good enough when you boomed these shares, 
12 


1 7 S PROPER TV OF DON OILS A R. 

but you held on too long. However, there are yet 
bids being made, and I guess we can come out whole, 
after all.’’ 

Mr. Mauler, I do not wish to tell you again that I do 
not ask for your opinions. If you choose to do my bid- 
ding, well and good ; but please keep your thoughts to 
yourself, or I must secure another broker. 

“Now go at once and buy five thousand shares of 
Wayneville and Adelfontain Terminal, at i.oi ; or if 
you can bid it up to 1.28, do so. I think Mr. Savoy bet- 
ter bid against you, as I wish to buy at a high figure ; do 
the same with the Cantiway ; also Nicholhoy shares.” 

“ God ! man, these stocks are not worth the paper they 
are printed on ; we examined them, you know, before we 
started this thing, and I tell you they won’t stand any 
more. Get out of it, Mr. Gilbar ; sell out now and try 
another tack.” 

“ Will you do as I tell you ? ” cried Don, his passions 
rising ; he had grown very irritable of late. 

By thus going into the market again, they induced a 
number more to buy, but at the closing on ’Change that 
day, young Gilbar decided he had reached the end in 
that direction. The next day, he directed his agents to 
sell all of his recent purchases. “ Do not consult me 
about price ; my orders now are. Sell.” 

The reaction that had just started the previous day, 
came upon them now with a rush. The flimsy, and 
practically worthless, .stocks Don had bought were all 
forced upon the market and sold, it is true, but when 
they footed up their transactions of the past few days, 
the accounts showed a loss to the Gilbar house of a net 
five hundred thousand dollars. 

Don took it all smilingly. The old brokers and agents 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


179 


of the firm came flocking in. True, the loss was not 
serious at all to people of the Gilbars’ wealth ; but it 
looked so like a deliberate and intentional throwing away 
of money that they could not understand it. 

That night, the bulletins reported two or three small 
failures, and by the next day the financial sky looked 
very stormy. Ready money had been invested in worth- 
less stocks, and as the payment of margins was demanded, 
falling due on other transactions that came up in the 
regular course of business, there was no money with 
which to meet them. 

Gilt-edge stocks began to decline ; call loans were 
made, in a few instances at a ruinous rate of interest ; 
confidence disappeared in every channel ; runs w^ere made 
on one or two of the weaker banks and they were forced 
to close their doors ; other large financial institutions, as 
well as individual speculators, were compelled to raise 
money at any sacrifice, or go to the wall ; the best stocks, 
first mortgage bonds, shares that were paying big divi- 
dends, all were offered for sale. 

All this Don had planned for, and he invested every 
dollar of the firm’s money, and the entire amount of the 
immense loans he had secured. 

He was able to buy at twenty, fifty — even in some 
cases, seventy — per cent, below what they had sold at in 
times past. 

After a time, the situation resumed its usual balance ; 
true, hundreds all over the land were ruined ; but, as 
money began to flow through the regular channels freely 
once more — the Government came to the assistance of 
the public, by calling in an issue of bonds and paying 
out large sums of money^ — Don was enabled to close out 
such of his purchases as he did not care to hold, and in 


i8o 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


two months’ time he had increased the wealth of the 
Gilbars by millions of dollars. 

* * * * * 

At first Jack had made every effort to gain an audience, 
both with Maud and Don, and to make the explanation 
that he felt in his heart would be so easy to make, but 
they were inflexible and positively refused all communica- 
tions of any nature. 

Nellie Miller pleaded earnestly for her friends and at 
one time was determined to go to them ; but her childish 
fancy was so taken with Don, that he persuaded lier to 
stay away and insisted that neither Jack’s nor Minna’s 
name should be heard in his presence. 

This was the state of affairs when, one lovely Sabbath 
evening, Don strolled into the Park — an unusual thing for 
him to do ; but he was restless and thought to get some 
fresh air as he smoked his cigar. 

Coming to an unoccupied seat, in a secluded spot, he 
sank down as though feeling there was little left for him 
to live for. He remarked that there was no one in sight 
and had almost dozed into unconsciousness, when his 
attention was arrested by voices, talking earnestly, in a 
clump of bushes just behind him. 

‘‘ I do not know you,” said unmistakably a woman's 
voice, with a slight tremor of fear. ‘‘ Please go away.” 

Oh, say now, what yer givin’ us ? ’Course you know 
me. Come along ; we hain’t had no luck since you left 
us,” replied some one in a rough tone. We allers 
treated you square. Come along, I- say.” 

No. Oh, please leave me, or I will call for help.” 

‘‘ Sing out, my beauty, who’ll hear ye ? You’re not so 
brave as you used ter be, lemme tell you ; Mammy’s 
dead, and she told me all about you. I know who ye are, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. i8l 

and can make a speck out o’ ye. Come on, damn you : 
yer gotter come.” 

Don heard every word, as it was borne on the clear 
night air. As the last words were spoken, there was 
a scrambling in the bushes and a muffled cry for 
help. 

With a bound, Don sprang through the trees upon a 
rough brute, who was dragging a lovely girl away, his 
big dirty paws over her mouth to suppress her screams. 
Half a dozen steps brought him to them, and with a 
powerful, well-directed blow Don felled the villain to the 
ground. 

“ What is this ? What do you mean, you scoundrel ? 
How dared you even look at this lady against her will ? 
Five years at hard labor wpuld be too light a punishment 
for your laying your dirty hands on her. 

“ Has he hurt you. Madam ? ” Don continued, turning 
wdth his most polite bow to the lady. “ Great God ! it is 
you, Minna ! ” he cried, perceiving the instant he looked 
at her who it was he had rescued. 

His thoughts overleaped the immediate past, rushing 
back and over the time of his sojourn with her during the 
long Winter months, while the great love he had for her, 
which had not abated one tittle, caused the warm blood 
to rush to his face and throbbing temples. 

You seem to know me, sir,” Minna replied, with her 
sweetest smile, and if this is true, you have the advan- 
tage over me ; but I thank you so earnestly for coming 
to my assistance just in time to prevent that dreadful 
creature from taking me, I know not where. Mere words 
are such a trifling reward ; yet T have no other recom- 
pense to offer. 

May I still draw upon your bounty, so far as to ask 


i 82 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


that you watch this man until I am a sufficient distance 
to be safe from his further persecutions ? May 1 ? ’’ 

“ 1 will see that he does not annoy you further/’ was 
all that Don replied. 

As he again lifted his hat respectfully, Minna dis- 
appeared swiftly along the graveled path. 

“ How can it be possible,” said Don aloud, “ for so 
black a heart to be behind such a fair, innocent face ? ” 

He could not realize that Minna really did not know 
him, and it cut him to the quick that she should be able 
to thank him as she would a stranger. 

“ She is the most beautiful creature living,” he went 
on saying, “ and her face and expression seemed as art- 
less and innocent as a child’s. 

‘‘ The world calls Don Gilbar lucky, and there are millions 
to-night who think it would be the realization of their 
most extravagant imaginations of happiness to be in his 
place ; and yet Don Gilbar would willingly exchange his 
wealth, position, everything that he now possesses, for 
the undivided love of the woman whose affections were 
stolen from him. Well, such is life. 

“ I scorn the world, and from this hour there shall be no 
check upon my powers until I own the earth. I will ruin 
mankind by the thousands and make them suffer, as a 
punishment for the treachery and perfidy that must be in 
every human breast, since I find it in the heart of the 
world’s fairest inhabitant.” 

While Don had been giving vent to his feelings, he had 
forgotten that he was not alone ; but as he ceased speak- 
ing and turned to retrace his steps clubward, his attention 
was arrested by the vagabond, who was still lying upon 
the ground. 

Don had dealt him a terrible blow, closing entirely one 


PROPERTY OP DON GJLBAR. 183 

of his ugly eyes ; but as the man had not spoken a word 
until then, nor made any movement, Don, for the moment, 
had overlooked him. 

“ See here, young feller, be you one of the Gilbars ? ’’ 
asked the man, respectfully enough. 

Don only deigned to give him a look, and, as he had 
no further interest in what became of the man, started on. 
The wretch immediately crawled into, Don’s path, and 
continued : — 

Tears like you’re in a big hurry to shake me. Lemme 
tell yer I have some pretty valerable information about 
that gal ; know all about her — more’n she nor anybody 
else does — and I’ll sell what I know.’’ 

“ Fellow, are you lying to me } ” he said sternly. 
“ Tell me what you have to say quickly and if it amounts 
to anything you shall be well paid.” 

“ Oh, no you don’t, pard. Pete Denney don’t do busi- 
ness that away. Yours truly sells for cash down, he does, 
amounts agreed in advance.” 

The ruffian’s familiarity was galling in the extreme to 
Don, but some irresistible power caused him to temporize 
with the man. 

“Well, what do you want ? ” 

“ Five thousand,” said Denney promptly. 

“ Five thousand dollars ! ” repeated Don. “ That’s non- 
sense. I have nothing like that amount with me and no 
doubt you can tell me nothing I don’t already know. 
Then, too, I wouldn’t give you the money first, so how 
would you be sure I would give it to you at all after hear- 
ing your tale ? ” 

“ Oh, that’s all right ; I can size a man up pretty well,” 
replied Denney, “ and I ha’n’t afeard you won’t stick to a 
bargain once you have made it. It’s all to your advan- 


184 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


tage any way. You will never miss the money, but I am 
selling everything I have in the world.’' 

‘‘ I have half a mind to see this man again,” mused 
Don audibly. 

“ Yer better,” urged Peter Denney. “ I am squarer’n 
I look. Gimme suthin’ to get suthin’ to eat and a night’s 
lodgin’ and I’ll meet yer ter-morrer.” 

Don, remembering as he did the conversation he had 
overheard between this man and Minna, was disposed to 
believe that he knew something of her past life. And 
what were a few dollars to Don ? 

“ Well, I will give you a chance,” he said finally. 

Here are five dollars, and if I never see you again, I guess 
you need the money. However, meet me here at six 
o’clock to-morrow morning and I will listen to what you 
have to say. 

“ After you have finished, if I think you Ivad a right to 
suppose that your information was of any use to me, 1 will 
give you the five thousand dollars ; but if not, I will 
drag you to the East River, yonder, and throw you in, as 
I would a dog. 

“Now, you are right; 1 am a man who will keep his 
word ; so if you have nothing to tell me, my advice is, do 
not come here in the morning. Now go your way, and I 
will wait for you here to-morrow for ten minutes, only, 
from six o’clock.” 

“ I’ll be here, Mr. Gilbar, and earn my money, too.” 
***** 

After the first few weeks that marked the time of Jack’s 
futile endeavors to place an explanation before the Gil- 
bars, he was completely nonplussed ; they utterly refused 
to see him or open any of his communications. 

Just in proportion as the favors of a family in such high 


PROPERTY OF DON GfLBAR. 185 

Standing as the Gilbars had raised him to the zenith of 
popular esteem, so the stigma they had placed upon him, 
as it became known and spread, was fast plunging him 
into the deepest abyss, and although possessed, as of 
yore, of great ability, the bright future of the rising young 
doctor was fading into obscurity. 

But, strange as it may seem, Jack loved Maud just as 
tenderly as ever ; his affection for Don did not diminish 
one iota ; in his generous heart there was not a particle of 
censure for the way in which he was being treated. He 
knew so well their indomitable pride that he could imagine 
their feelings and argued that, coupled with his absolute 
refusal to permit either of them to see Minna, the situa- 
tion, as presented to Maud by himself and his beautiful 
companion on that fatal day, was compromising in the 
extreme. How could he ever straighten matters out } — 
that was what occupied his thoughts continually. 

It was not conceit, but sublime faith, that enabled him 
to think only of how Maud must suffer. It never occurred 
to him but that it would come right in time ; not for an 
instant did he fear that his darling would forget or cease 
to love him ; but oh ! how miserable must she be, thinking 
of him, as she was now doing. 

Jack had not even attempted to retain the magnificent 
apartments young Gilbar had provided, as the agent had 
told him respectfully what was the relation he judged that 
Jack and Minna bore to each other, and that he would 
prefer other tenants. He was above arguing or trying to 
explain to a stranger ; so they quietly departed, and the 
doctor secured a pleasant home for Minna with some 
worthy people he knew, where her sweet nature seemed 
to grow and develop, like a fragrant lily. She seemed 
instinctively to adapt herself to the cultured surroundings. 


i86 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


and, while a close observer might have noticed a slight 
hesitancy at times as to just what were the full require- 
ments of society on certain matters, yet even this soon 
passed away and any little errors of omission or commis- 
sion were made so innocently and in such a way that they 
rendered her all the more winning. “ A poet is born, 
not made ” — so is a lady. 

Now all this time the elder Mr. Gilbar was having a 
very serious sick spell ; what was at first supposed to be 
a slight attack, superinduced by overwork, gradually 
developed into a local affection, causing him much pain 
and suffering. 

As soon as the attending physician discovered the real 
cause of Mr. Gilbar’s trouble, he knew that a surgical 
operation would be necessary to effect a cure, and this 
he was not able to perform ; hence a surgeon must be 
called in. 

Then send for Dr. Lykin,” the old gentleman said. 

As soon as Don heard this, he naturally protested 
against such a preposterous demand. “ Father, you have 
surely forgotten yourself ; it is not to be thought of.” 

“ And why not, I should like to know? Jack Lykin is 
the only man to whom I would trust such a delicate 
operation, and as I believe I am slightly interested in the 
result, why should I not say who shall perform the opera- 
tion ? ” asked Mr. Gilbar. 

“ Dr. Lykin’s ability is not questioned, sir,” his son 
replied ; but you are cognizant of the dastardly way he 
has acted, and it is an insult to your daughter, as well as 
to myself, for you to even think of his crossing our thresh- 
old : there are surely other surgeons who are capable.” 

“ There are not,” cried the irascible old gentleman. “ I 
never did believe the half you told me about that matter ; 


PROPEkTY OF DON GTLBAR. 


187 

but it was you young people’s affairs and I did not meddle ; 
this is my affair and I will have no interference. I tell 
you right now, I am master here.” 

“ But, father, think of Maud,” remonstrated Don. 

“ Think of the devil ! ” cried the old man. “ Maud is 
too prudish for this age and day ; I have no patience with 
any of you. Damn it, man, supposing young Lykin did 
want to enjoy himself a little, it wasn’t anything so remark- 
able, and if he had settled down and behaved himself 
after they were married, which no doubt he would have 
done, it would have been all that she could have asked. 
The young fellow outwitted you, Don, that’s where it 
hurts.” 

‘‘ He grossly deceived me,” broke in Don, “ and 
exhibited the most low-down treachery. If you permit 
him to enter this house, I leave it forever. No one can 
betray my confidence, as Jack Lykin did, and again 
receive from me a much slighter recognition than his 
admission to this house would be. No, sir ; make your 
choice. I have always tried to be a dutiful son, but if 
you insist on this thoroughly unreasonable demand, I 
will leave your roof instantly.” 

‘‘ You are a blathering idiot,” called out his father, as 
he rose with difficulty and staggered to the bell-cord, 
pulling it violently. 

The old gentleman was thoroughly aroused ; it took 
very little to fan his temper into a white heat, and at no 
time would he brook interference. 

Old George appeared quickly, and with a voice shrill 
with passion, his master instructed him. 

“ Send at once to Dr. Lykin’s office ; tell him Mr. Gil- 
bar, senior, is seriously in need of his professional 
services and that he is to call to-morrow morning, at nine 


l88 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

o'clock ; tell him this message is from i\Ir. Gilbar, per- 
sonally.” 

Then, turning to Don : ‘‘ Now, sir, you have heard 

my orders. Leave me ; I have no strength or inclination 
to discuss the matter further.” 

Don left the room without another word, too angry to 
trust himself to speak. It was from this contention 
with his father that Don retreated to the Park, where he 
so unexpectedly met Minna. 

After leaving Peter Denney, Don spent the night at 
his Club, his mind filled with innumerable conflicting 
thoughts. 

About seven o’clock on this same evening. Dr. Lykin, 
too, was preparing to go out when there came a rap, rap, 
rap at his office door. 

“ Well ? ” said the doctor. 

“ Someone to see you, Dr. Lykin,” answered the trim 
little servant, as she opened the door. 

‘‘ Show him in, Nettie. What, you, good old George ! ” 
exclaimed Jack, as he recognized the Gilbar factotum. 
“ To what may I attribute this pleasure ” 

On the instant. Jack felt that George must be the har- 
binger of some disaster ; nevertheless, the familiar old 
face was more than welcome. 

“ Yes, Dr. Lykin, it is old George, and I have a mes- 
sage for you. I was so fearful there might be some mistake 
if it was intrusted to anyone else that I brought it all the 
way myself.” 

And what is it, George ?” asked Jack, with unmistak- 
able interest. I hope you have no bad news for 
me.’’ 

“ Well, you see,” began the old servant, ‘‘ Mr. Gilbar 
has been sick for some time, and they found out the last 


iVWPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 189 

few days that there is something in his side that has to be 
cut out ; so as soon as they told the master this, he said, 
‘ Dr. Lykin is the only man that can cut into me,’ or 
words to that effect. 

“Then, I think (I beg pardon fo.r having an opinion), 
Mr. Don objected to your being called in ; but when the 
master makes up his mind, St. Peter himself can’t change 
it : so he pulled the bell in a way that anyone who didn't 
know him would think he was in a bad temper, and when 
I ran in, he said to me, ‘ Send word to Dr. Lykin to be 
here to-morrow morning, at nine o’clock; tell him Mr. 
(blbar personally sends for him,’ so I sends myself and 
here I am.” 

“ ^^'ell, George, I am indeed sorry to learn that Mr. 
Gilbar is so afflicted. I knew that he had been ailing for 
some little time, but did not know the cause of his illness. 
You may tell him that I will come.” 

“ God bless you, Doctor ! and may I make so bold as 
to say that there is someone else in our house who needs 
you ? I know it is unbecoming of me to tell it, but our 
little girl is grieving her heart out. I mustn’t speak any 
more about it, and I hope you won’t think any less of me 
for mentioning it.” 

“No, I am sure you mean all right, George,” said the 
doctor kindly, “ but we won’t discuss that now — it is a 
matter that wiser heads than yours are troubled over,” 
and Jack considerately dismissed the old man. 

The next morning, a little after the appointed time. 
Dr. Lykin’s stopped before No. — Fifth Avenue. 

'rhe young doctor was faultlessly attired and the passers- 
by, had they taken any notice, would little have thought, 
as he leisurely ascended the steps, what a trying ordeal 
this was for the young surgeon. 


1^0 PROPJ^.A^TY OF DON G/LBAP, 

It had been for weeks his greatest desire to once more 
cross this threshold, and now that his fond hopes were 
to be realized, he was making an almost superhuman 
effort to appear dignified and to persuade himself that 
there was no significance to be attached to this visit, 
other than as it might redound to his professional skill. 

Jack was ushered into the sick-room at once, and 
Mr. Gilbar greeted him very affably. 

“ Glad to see you. Doctor ; we have a little something 
in your line, we think, which we will be pleased to have 
you dispose of with the least possible delay. 1 especially 
sent for you because, knowing you had made a great 
reputation, I thought you would not make any great ado 
about my little affair, nor try to string it out all Summer.” 

“I am very sorry to find you so helpless, Mr. Gilbar,” 
said Jack calmly ; ‘‘but let me see what is the trouble, 
and it will be a pleasure to get you out and all straight- 
ened up as quickly as possible.” 

“ That’s the talk. Doctor ; that’s the talk,” replied 
Mr. Gilbar. 

He had always liked Jack, and he was perfectly de- 
lighted at the plain, straightforward way Jack went at it 
— so business-like, without any intimation of the peculiar 
relations existing between himself and the family, either 
by word or look. 

“ Shall I make an examination now, sir } ” asked the 
doctor. 

“ At once,” replied Mr. Gilbar. “ You kept me waiting 
a while, you know, as your appointment was for nine 
o’clock.” 

“ Pardon me for that,” was all Jack said. 

After making a thorough examination, it was decided 
to perform the operation at four o’clock that afternoon. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


191 

Mr. Gilbar’s regular physician was to be present, and one 
or two others. 

There was some very delicate and intricate work to do, 
but the young surgeon had the utmost confidence in the 
result ; so he told Mr. Gilbar : 

“ You will be surprised at the relief you will feel at 
once and will be out in a few days ; only you will natu- 
rally have to be careful until you regain your strength. 

“ I shall depend on your nerve aiding me, and I will 
guarantee we will come through all right. Now don’t 
grow anxious over this, Mr. Gilbar, and bring on a fever, 
for if you do, we will have to put it off. Then do not 
blame me for delaying the case.” 

“ Never fear. Doctor ; see if I do not make a model 
subject. I will be just as calm when you come this after- 
noon as you see me now, and you have no idea of the 
extent of my confidence in you, which is everything.” 

“Very good,” replied Jack. “Now take a soothing 
draught and sleep all you can to-day ; keep perfectly 
quiet; and I shall have to ask you to not partake of any 
food until this is over. Good-morning, sir ; ” and Jack 
quietly retired from the room. 

Of course old George had told Nellie Miller that Dr. 
Lykin was coming. The old footman and Nellie were 
great friends and had discussed Maud’s love-affair by 
the hour. 

“ Now, George, mind you don’t tell Maud about Mr. 
Jack’s coming, nor let Mr. Don know it; for 1 have 
promised I wouldn’t go to see Mr. Jack; but now he is 
coming here, I can see him and, I would give my head for 
five minutes’ talk with him.” 

So Nellie was waiting in the hall when Jack came from 
the inner chamber, and, gliding up to him, she took his 


192 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LPAR. 


big, strong hand and raised it to her lips. I don’t 
believe you are bad,” she said, as she began to drag him 
along the dimly-lighted passage. 

“ Is this you, Nellie.^ Hold on, where are you taking 
me ?” said Jack. 

‘‘ Come in here, Mr. Jack,” replied Nellie, ‘‘ I want to 
talk to you. Oh, I have lots to say. Now sit down and 
listen.” 

‘‘Well! indeed I shouldn’t have known you, had I met 
you anywhere else. My ! how you have changed ! When 
I saw you last, you were a little girl ; now I find a young 
lady.” 

Nellie’s hair was done up tastily, she had on a beautiful 
gown with a long train, and the few months in the city 
had stamped experience upon her face, thereby adding 
years to her appearance. 

“ Yes, I suppose I am quite grown up now,” said Nellie, 
with a sigh. “ Tying my curls up, and this long dress 
make all the difference, and I suppose it is very improper 
for me to have you here all alone, in my boudoir ; but 
we haven’t time to talk about that now. I want you to 
tell me the truth about Minna and 3^ou. 

“Don’t you care for Maud any more? and have you 
fallen in love with this Minna? ” 

“ The idea ! Nellie,” said Jack ; “ why, you know better 
than that, without asking such a question.” 

“ That is not coming right out and answering, yes, or 
no,” continued Nellie, “which I want you to do ; I don’t 
think it is such an impossible thing for any man to 
fall in love with Minna ; you men are all so fickle, any- 
how.” 

“ Now stop right there,” interrupted Jack. “ My 
affection for Maud is as great as it ever was — yes, f r 


PROPER PY OF D ON GILBA R. 193 

Stronger — and I do not care one bit more for Minna, nor 
ever did, than for any patient in whom I am especially 
interested as a matter of physical science. I can tell you 
the whole trouble in a few words. 

“ Immediately after Minna began to recover from the 
shock occasioned by the accident, I, as her physician, 
peremptorily prohibited either Maud or Don seeing her, 
in spite of their urging and insisting upon doing so. My 
reason for such a course was that Minna’s mind seemed 
to be perfectly clear and rational, and by giving her a 
little time, so that her brain might strengthen, I hoped 
that she would be as she now is, as sane and intelligent 
as you or I. 

Maud and Don could not appreciate the importance of 
this plan, so Maud — inspired by either curiosity or, more 
likely, some indistinct feeling of jealousy — gained an 
entrance into Minna’s room, where she was presented 
with a sight which I confess it was only natural for her 
to account for as she has.” 

“And how do you account for it, Mr. Jack?’* inter- 
rupted Nellie, eagerly. 

“Just wait a minute,” said Jack. “I had been trying 
to recall to Minna’s mind some of the incidents in her 
immediate past, for, Nellie, to this day the girl has not 
the least recollection of ever seeing you or Don, or the 
cave in which she met Don. She has not the least idea 
of where she has ever been, previous to her sojourn in 
the city. She doesn’t know a thing about the smashup, 
says she never saw me until here in New York, and, as 1 
said, the day Maud came to see her, I was telling her 
about Don ; I told her what a fine fellow he was, and that 
1 wa.s expecting soon to marry his sister. But, no ; she 
just sat there and smiled and said : .. 


194 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


“ ‘ Doctor, I do not know what you are talking about. ' 

“ Well, then I thought possibly she was feigning igno- 
rance ; so I went right at her, tooth and nail, told her I 
wouldn’t put up with her foolishness any longer ; she 
wasn’t treating me right; that Don was my best friend; 
and after I had gone to all the trouble of finding him, just 
as you know, Nellie, she was so crazy to have us do, why, 
if she had determined to disavow any knowledge of the 
whole crowd of us, then I would just leave her to get 
along as best she could. 

“ You see, Nellie, I put all this to her just as strongly as 
I knew how. All the good it did was to frighten her, and 
she came up to me and, sinking on her knees in the 
most abject and pitiful way, begged and implored me not 
to leave her or, as she expressed it, turn her out, as of 
course in her helpless condition, being so little familiar 
with the world, she readily divined starvation before 
her. 

‘‘Now, Nellie, you have the honest, God’s truth, and 
there is not one bit more or less to tell.” 

“Well ! for pity’s sake, Mr. Jack, why haven’t you told 
this all along?” cried Nellie. 

“ Tell you all along ! ” said Jack. “ Haven’t 1 tried to 
tell you ? haven’t I written Maud and Don, and even you ? 
haven’t I been refused admission to this house ? My 
Lord ! To whom would I tell it, the lamp-post ? Was I 
to stand in front of the house and hollo it out, at the top 
of my voice ? ” 

“Oh, pshaw! Mr. Jack,” expostulated Nellie, “you 
are not half a man. Why didn’t you go to Don’s office 
with a pistol, and just make him listen to you ? or why 
didn’t you steal me and take me in some dark alley and, 
with your big, long fingers, seize my back hair, while you 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 19S 

pressed the cold steel of a long bright blade to my throat, 
and say ; ‘ Nellie Miller, listen to my vindication, and 
carry it to my lost love, or you die ! ^ Ugh ! ” 

Jack could hardly keep from smiling, but he said ; 

I do not see that this is any joking matter. This 
terrible misunderstanding has caused poor Maud days and 
nights of suffering. I can see that you credit every word 
of what I have been telling you. Now, Nellie, do not let 
us keep it from Maud a moment longer ; run and tell her 
at once, so that her heart may be lightened.” 

“ Well, upon my word ! ” said Nellie, anybody would 
think you hadn’t the least concern about yourself. Why 
don’t you ask me if 1 think Maud cares for you any 
more.” 

‘‘ Because I know it,” cried Jack. “ Not for one in- 
stant have I doubted this. I love Maud more than all 
else in the world, and this love makes my faith strong. 
During all this time, my only anxiety and pain has been 
knowing how Maud suffers, thinking the object of her 
love so unworthy ; but, Nellie, she loves me yet. 

“ True love, such as Maud gave me, cannot be rooted 
out in a day, no matter how fierce a storm may rend it.” 

“Oh, Jack! Oh, my darling ! those noble words, this 
perfect faith so boldly expressed, repay me tenfold for all 
I have suffered.” 

At these words from Maud, as she emerged from the 
folds of the silken draperies that divided the boudoir from 
the inner room where she had been concealed. Jack’s face 
beamed with surprise and indescribable joy. “ In those 
few, strong words you have laid bare my heart ; your 
sublime generosity has denied me the recompense of ask- 
ing your forgiveness.” 

“ My precious one,” passionately cried Jack, “ I have 


196 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

nothing to forgive ; at no time have I blamed you. How 
could you have thought or acted differently ? 1 now be- 

gin to fully realize how I have been starving for a morsel 
of your sweet presence.” 

“ Well now, you dear old Jack,” promised Maud, “ you 
shall have a feast, and there need not be another word of 
explanation ; it is all clear to me now, as I overheard 
every word you said to Nellie ; didn’t I, Nellie ? ” 

“Yes. Let me tell you, Mr. Jack, how we did,” re- 
plied Nellie. “ You see, first, old George told me that you 
would be here this morning, and I right away made him 
promise not to let Maud know of it, because I feared she 
would forbid me seeing you and I was determined to get 
you out of this scrape, in return, for the whippings you 
had saved me when a child, out on the Plains. 

“But just after dinner Maud told me, also, that Dr. 
Lykin would be here in the morning to see her father. 
I don’t think I ever asked her how she found it out ; but 
I begged of her that she would give me this one oppor- 
tunity of finding out the truth about you and Minna. So 
we schemed it out that Maud was to hide and hear what 
you had to offer as an excuse for your horrid conduct. 
I’m sure, Mr. Jack, she consented to my plans because 
her heart would not permit her to refuse. 

“ Maud can tell you the rest of it ; 1 do not see why I 
have told you even this much, when Maud could have 
done it so much better. Now, I am going to leave you, 
silly things. If you will both kiss me, I will call my part 
of the transaction settled.” 

“ Certainly we will,” they both exclaimed. 

“ That is letting us off very cheap,” said Jack, as he 
started to pay his debt. 

“ Bah,” cried Nellie, “ kiss each other, that will do me 


PROPERTY OF DON GJLBAR. 197 

just as well,” and she ran, laughing merrily, out of the 
room. 

Jack's duties, which had already been too long neglect- 
ed, did not permit him to remain longer ; but the natural 
invitation to remain to dinner and all the evening, after 
performing the operation upon Mr. Gilbar, was most read- 
ily accepted. 

You know papa may need you any time during the 
evening," Maud had said. 

“That’s so,” agreed Jack, as he bade her adieu. 


198 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

Young Gilbar found his man waiting, as he reached 
the rendezvous, even before the appointed hour. 

“Didn't think I’d be here, Mr. Gilbar, did yer ? ” said 
Denney. 

“ Oh, I don’t know,” replied Don ; “ you said you would, 
but now what have you to say ? My time is limited.” 

“Got the stuff with ye,” inquired the man. 

“Yes, that’s all right,” Don assured him; “start in, 
and come to the point as quickly as possible.” 

“Well, then, here goes. You see, my mother’s name 
was Myrtle Denney, don’t know what my father’s name 
was, — guess I never had any. From a lad, until a short 
time ago, my life was spent on the Plains in the fur West. 
We belonged to a band of trappers, part of the time earning 
an honest living, although once in a while we stole horses 
and other plunder, just by way of a lark. We traveled over 
that whole country, from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to 
the Mississippi River. About twelve or fifteen years ago, 
we were on the trail in Iowa. We’d had awful hard luck 
just the Winter before (you see this was in the Spring) and 
we were just about starved out, when one day a little gal 
strayed into camp. She was a purty little thing, but no 
God’s use to us ; we had too many mouths to feed as it was ; 
so we all kicked at takin’ in another, ’cept my old mammy ; 
she said : ‘ Let the little thing stay with us ; ’ it couldn’t 
eat much, and she would feed it out’en her portion. Well, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


199 


what Mammy said went, only we thought it was a mighty 
strange freak had come over her ; we deviled her a bit 
about wanting more babies, at her time o’ life ; but in our 
hearts we thought she was gettin’ old and really had a 
weakness for the little brat; anyhow, the child stayed 
with us, and from that day prosperity rained down on us. 
For years and years we had everything a trapper could 
ask for ; we’d strike plenty of game, allers had any quantity 
of the finest skins every Spring, and there seemed to be no 
trouble sellin’ ’em. After the little gal had been with us 
some time, she had grown to be as spry and sassy as a 
chipmunk ; she was all life and continually up to some 
prank or other: still we all had growed kinder attached to 
her. I mind one day, one of our fellers we called ‘ Snag- 
gletooth,’ was cleaning a bar trap, just outside the tent. 
He had a bottle of kerosene settin’ on a bench that he 
was oilin it up with, and as he was leaning over on the 
ground, our little gal, ‘ Minna ’ Mammy called her, came 
stepping along and seeing the bottle, shied a stone at it 
(she could throw truer nor any man in the camp) and 
clip, she took the old bottle in the neck, breakin’ the glass 
all to flinders and upsettin’ the oil all over Snaggletooth’s 
head and down his back. It kinder took him by surprise ; 
he had an ugly temper, anyhow, and the way the little 
devil laughed at seeing Snaggletooth jump so, riled the 
Indian mor’n anything else, and up he jumps and bangs 
her over the head with the bar trap. We all thought that 
would end her, and if it had, we wouldn’t a been long 
stringing up Mr. Snaggletooth, for we thought a heap of 
the little thing; but she come around all right again and 
growed up to be the smartest and purtiest woman on the 
Plains. So things went along, until last Winter. We’d 
traveled later than usual, and it was some time in De- 


200 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


cember before we went into camp. We just got settled, 
too, for there came some heavy snows and mighty cold 
weather before we were fully settled. 1 remember a poor 
devil crawling into the corral, about the time we’d got 
fixed ; he was purty badly chawed up by the wolves, and 
you kin know it must have been rough weather for the 
wolves to attack men in that country. He was outen his 
mind, for he was tellin’ us about him and his pard findin’ 
some rich feller in the snow, and hidin’ him in a cave, 
and he said him and his pard were making tracks for this 
cave when the wolves surrounded them. It seems the 
other feller died in his tracks, while he clum a tree and 
stayed all night, until the wolves left, when he dropped 
down and come to us. We took no stock in his lyin’ and 
as he died in about an hour, we chucked him under the ice. 
Now all last Winter we see less of Minna, than usual. 
She’d been keeping putty shy for a year or two, but last 
Winter we had hardly seen her at all. When we broke 
up in the Spring, she started with us, but left again the 
second day and I never sot eyes on her until last night, 
when I accidentally run across her here. We had the 
biggest and best lot of pelts when we started into the set- 
tlement we ever had, but when Minna left us, our luck 
went with her ; we couldn’t find no good buyer for the 
skins; ‘a heap of ’em spoiled on our hands; half of our 
people got sick, and finally Mammy died. You ha’n’t 
got a chaw o’ tobaccy about you, have ye, Mr. Gil- 
bar ? ” 

I have not,” replied Don. “Your tale has been very 
interesting, and I have reasons to believe that you have 
been telling me the truth ; but, just as I feared, you have 
told me very little that I did not know before, for I was 
the man found in a cave in Iowa, and was nursed and pro- 


PROPERTY OF P>ON GILS A R, 


201 


vided for by the lady I saved from your villainous perse- 
cutions last night.’’ 

“Well, I’ll be kissed-to-death and die-laughing! ” cried 
Denney. “ Is that a fact ? ’’ 

“ Why, certainly it is,” went on Don, “and what you 
have told me is of very little importance ; it only confirms 
what I had guessed at in a general way, still I believe 
you meant well enough, only you set too high a price on 
your information. Here is a thousand dollars, which is 
paying you well ; and 1 hope it will keep you from want 
until you strike better luck,” and Don began to count out 
a roll of bills. 

“ A thousand dollars ! ” said Denney. “ Why, I don’t 
consider I've told you anything yet; just wait. I'll earn 
my five thousand dollars, or nothing. I haven’t told you 
who the gal is yet, and that’s what I agreed to do. 
What I’ve just said is only explaining what I’ve got to 
tell.'’ 

“ And have you more to tell ? ” inquired Don. “ Do 
you know who the young lady’s parents are ? ” 

“ In course I do," Denney assured him. 

“ Then tell me at once, sir,” said Don, “ tell me every- 
thing you know about her.” 

“ Jest you keep cool and don’t get excited ; I want to 
tell you this in my own way, or I’ll get all mixed up.” 

“ All right, then,” said Don, “ only please do not string 
it out any longer than is necessary ; come to the point as 
quickly as you can ; ” and, lighting a fresh cigar, young Gil- 
bar prepared to possess himself with patience and hear the 
fellow out. 

“You see,” Denney began again, “ a few hours before 
Mammy died, as she knowed she couldn’t live, she called 
me to her and told me this tale.” 


20 ^ 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


And this was Myrtle Denney’s narrative, robbed as 
much as possible of Denney’s provincialism ; 

Some years ago, before there were any railroads in 
Central Iowa, a company of Pennsylvania Dutch were 
traveling across the plains, intending to make their homes 
on the rich prairies of that fertile country. They had 
come wdthin a week’s journey of where they were agoin’ to 
stop, when they camped one night right in the heart of a 
country over-run by roving bands of Indians, who w'ere 
ready for any kind of deviltry and plunder. It was a bright 
Spring evening, the big sun had set about an hour before, 
and as they unhooked their teams, the little stars began to 
hang out here and there in the sky. Everything was bustle 
and confusion ; some building fires, getting ready to cook 
the supper ; others picketing the tired horses while the 
little children were scampering about, tryin’ to limber up 
their little legs, which were cramped from the long day’s 
ride in the wagons. The leader of the company had taken 
special charge this night, and without saying much, so as 
not to frighten the w'omen folks, had placed the wagons 
so as to make a good defense in case they were attacked. 
He knew just what he was about and right where they 
were ; and while he hoped there was no danger for so 
large and well-prepared a company, yet he wanted to make 
everything sure and safe, so as not to be caught napping. 
The business of getting settled was all well under way, 
and as the young captain stood out a little ways from the 
circle of wagons, he could hear in the far distance, way 
off to the West, the short, sharp barking and shrill howl 
of a single coyote, answered by another in just the oppo- 
site direction. By the time he had made the circuit of 
the camp to see that all was fixed as he wished it, the 
wolves seemed to be drawing nearer and were keeping up 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


203 


almost a continuous howl. ‘Guess there is no big 
game or Indians hanging around/ the young feller said 
to himself, ‘ or you wouldn’t hear the coyotes around 
yelping so. Well, if we get through to-night all right, I 
think we’ll be putty safe,’ so he walked into the camp, 
and settin’ his long rifle down, began pitching into the 
grub. 

“ Nobody but a frontiersman could appreciate what a 
relief it was to that young feller to hear those coyotes, as 
he knowed there couldn’t be much danger yet, when they 
were making so much noise. Three or four hours later, 
all excepting the guard were sound asleep, and by then the 
wolves were circling about the camp, keeping up a perfect 
yell ; they had scented the fresh tneat for miles, and it 
would seem that every coyote in the state had come to 
get a piece. But all of a sudden the noise stopped and 
after a minute or two, scampering through the long grass, 
every devil’s wolf of them disappeared like magic, and it 
was that still you could almost feel it. ‘ What does that 
mean ? ’ whispered the captain to an old scout who had 
been with them fur a couple of weeks, and who knowed 
all the prairie signs from A to Z. While the wolves had 
been howling old Glen Lewis was more’n half sleeping at his 
post ; but the second they stopped, the old scout straight- 
ened up and, grasping his long smooth bore, craned his 
neck, his deep-set eyes glaring into the darkness. ‘ Sh ! ’ 
cautioned the old man, as the captain spoke to him. ‘It 
don’t mean no good to us,’ he continued below his breath ; 
‘ you’d better sneak around the camp quick and see that 
all the pickets are awake. Come right back to me then, 
but tell ’em not to lire a shot at anything, or make a move, 
until they get orders from me or you.’ 

“ ‘ All right, Glen, the camp and myself are under your 


204 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


orders and I do not think we could be in better hands,’ 
said the captain. 

‘ Don’t brag on me, Captain, as we are going into the 
woods ; wait until we come out. Now hurry around ; I’m 
not saying there is any trouble brewing, but it won’t hurt 
to be on the safe side.’ 

“ The captain didn’t wait to hear the old scout’s last 
words before he disappeared under a wagon, and putty 
quick he was back again. 

“ ‘ See anything new, Glen ? ’ asked the captain. 

‘‘ ‘ Not yet,’ replied Glen ; and just then the barking of 
a single coyote, at an uncertain distance, was heard. 

‘ Hear that, Glen ? ’ said the captain eagerly. ‘ I 
guess we’re all right ; and they are coming back, and we’ve 
had our fright for nothing.’ 

“‘Keep still. Captain, keep still.’ Old Lewis spoke 
even lower than ever. ‘By the time you’ve made your 
fortune out here, you can tell the difference between that 
sound coming from the throat of a wolf and from one of 
them painted heathens. That’s a signal. Captain ; just 
wait now.’ As he stopped speaking, there came from the 
other side of the camp, the mournful cry of the whip-poor- 
will. 

“‘Didn’t I tell you so .^ ’ asked old Glen. ‘Them’s 
signals, sure ; I guess we are in for a little skirmish. Did 
you find everything all right, Captain ? ’ 

“‘All but the North side. I didn’t find Denney at all 
and three or four of the wagons have been pulled together, 
leaving a big gap.^ 

“ ‘ The devil ! ’ was all the old scout said, as he started 
straight through the camp with the captain close at his 
heels. 

“ As they neared the gap, a dark object sprang from 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


205 


under their hurrying feet ; and, with a yell, a big Indian 
grabbed a burning stick from one of the fires and flung 
it at a pile of straw. A dozen long strides and leaps 
brought the scout up with the red spy, and as he plunged 
his long knife into the tndian’s back, his death cry could 
be heard far out on the plains. 

“The young captain made for the burning pile and 
trampled out the fire before it had gained much headway ; 
then calling a few sturdy men to his side, they once more 
closed up their defences with the wagons not a minute 
too soon, as the Indians could be seen in all directions, 
jumping toward the camp. 

“ There was a fierce battle, while it lasted ; but under 
the experienced guidance of the old scout and the cool 
commands of the young captain, the bloodthirsty thieves 
were finally driven away, but not until a number of their 
band had gone to their happy hunting-grounds and three 
good men who had started West to better their condition, 
had ended their earthly career in defense of their families 
and friends. As the confusion died away and the cap- 
tain began to restore some kind of system among his 
people, he looked in vain for the faithful Glen Lewis ; 
nowhere could he be found, among the dead, wounded or 
living until about daybreak he came stalking into camp, 
pushing and dragging a poor, dirty, blood-stained mortal 
with him. 

Here’s the damned villain who opened the gap and ‘ 
led the painted heathens onto us ; blame him for the 
death of yon honest fellows, then think that if he’d had 
his way, every mother’s son of you would have been 
murdered and robbed of all you’ve got. Here he is ; I 
turn him over to you.’ 

At sunrise they took Denney out and shot him, for it 


2o6 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


was he who had betrayed the camp, actuated by a desire 
to enrich himself at the expense of his comrades. He 
had led the Indians to the camp and told them of the 
weak spot he made and the advantages of attacking that 
point. His young wife pleaded with the captain for her 
husband's life, but ‘ No,' the intrepid leader said, 
Hraitors must die,' He well knew that fearless govern- 
ment and speedy punishment of every crime were the 
only safety in that wild country. 

“ Myrtle Denney brooded over her loss, and six months 
after, left the little settlement that had been started, to 
lead a roving life among border ruffians. Years after, she 
returned to that section, her thirst for revenge never 
slacking. 

“ The young captain had prospered ; he had lands and 
cattle, and his life was made especially happy by the 
presence of a little daughter whom he worshipped. It 
was through this love for his little girl that Myrtle struck 
him. She stole the child one day, when she was playing 
on the prairie, and intending to bring her up to a life of 
shame, she thought to make her vengeance complete ; 
but, as the little girl grew, Myrtle Denney, and every one 
about, learned to fear her ; and, regarding her as some 
supernatural being, did not dare to accomplish her 
designs, nor even take the girl's life." 

All this, Peter Denney told in his stumbling way. 

“ Now you see," continued he, Mammy told me this 
just afore she died. ‘ Do what ye like with my secret,' 
she said, ‘ turn it to some profit, if ye kin. George Denney 
was not yer father, Pete, but of all the lovers I ever had, 
Denney was the only one I lov^ed.'" 

‘H\nd now, who was this captain ?” asked Don quietly, 

his intense interest making him calm. 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


207 

“ Hugh Lykin,” said the man, “ and the gal you saw 
last night is his child.’’ 

“ Great God ! can this be true ? ” cried Don. Then 
her lover is her brother.” 

The awful situation broke upon him, and then an evil 
light shone from his eyes. ‘‘To tell Jack Lykin this 
shall be my revenge. I will confront him, before my 
father’s face, with the revolting position his treachery has 
placed him in.” 

“ I do’an know jest what you are gettin’ at. Mister 
Gilbar, but I seen in yer eyes last light ye was in love 
with that gal, so I quick thought, soon as I heerd ye 
speak yer own name, ye had money and would be willin’ 
to pay for what I know’d. Now, where is my money ? ” 

“ Here it is ; you have earned it. Now leave me. 
Good-day.” 

“Thank ye sir; I wish you luck,” and, pulling his fore- 
lock, the man slunk away. 

Don was late at his office, that morning, and matters 
of the utmost importance demanded his undivided attention 
during the entire day. About dark, as the lights were 
beginning to shine from the shop windows and the street 
lamps, there came to him a message from Maud. 

“ Come and see me to-night,” it said ; “ something very 
important.” 

It would never occur to Don to slight Maud’s bidding ; 
so he answered : “ I will come.” 

The operation was performed upon Mr. Gilbar and was 
attended with the most flattering success. Promptly at 
the appointed time the young surgeon came, calmly lay- 
ing out upon the table the glittering array of delicate in- 
struments which he could handle so deftly. 


2o8 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


Finding his patient perfectly self-possessed, a begin- 
ning was made without delay. Slowly he cut into the 
quivering flesh, carefully sealing the tiny veins, as he 
progressed, and in an hour s time, he was done, and well 
done. 

The work was complicated, — more so than had been 
expected — and difflculties arose that could not be antici- 
pated ; but in the end all was well, and Mr. Gilbar experi- 
enced a relief that could hardly be credited in so short a 
time. 

Then, leaving the old gentleman resting quietly, Jack 
went below, to join the happy family and to pass the 
most delightful evening, as it afterward proved, of his life, 
going to show once more that, “ After clouds, comes sun- 
shine.’’ 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


209 


CHAPTER XV. 

They were all in high spirits, as they waited for Don. 
He can’t be much longer,” Maud said. “ Don is 
always so prompt, and he is just as punctual when he 
makes an engagement with me as he is with any stranger.” 

“ Don’t be so restless, Maud,” remonstrated Nellie ; 
“ you have Mr. Jack. Now why not be contented for a 
little while You know very well there must be some- 
thing important detaining him.” 

“ Well, there can’t be anything of more importance 
than what I want him for. I think I will go meet him 
in the hall and tell him how shamefully we have treated 
Jack; somebody must ask Jack’s forgiveness; I had no 
opportunity of doing so, therefore Don must. ” 

No, no, Maud,” Dr. Lykin here chimed in. “ Stay 
right here with us. I don’t want a lot of foolishness and 
begging my pardon. Haven’t I just been telling you, 
and don’t I keep repeating, that it is all right, everything 
is all right ; and you and Don would not have remained 
on the high plane of respect where I have always placed 
you, had you acted in any way differently from what you 
did. It was necessary for us to wait until a fitting oppor- 
tunity presented itself.” 

“ What was that you called me ?'” interrupted Nellie. 

“ I hadn’t come to you yet.” 

“ No, nor you wouldn’t have come to me. I should 
like to know what good the opportunity would have done 
14 


210 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


had I not enabled you to embrace it or to embrace Maud, 
which amounts to the same thing.” 

“ There, I hear the front door,” whispered Maud. 
“ You two stay here and quarrel it out. If that is Don, 
I am going to see him a minute.” 

Without waiting for them to detain her or to excuse 
herself, Maud slipped out of the room and found, as she 
expected, that Don had come, letting himself in quietly 
with his latchkey. She came up to him, as he was 
hanging up his hat and, turning her animated face up to 
his for a kiss, she said : 

“ Dearie, I am so glad you didn’t refuse me to-night. 
Where were you last night ? Why didn't you come home ? 
You are working too hard, Don, and look wretched. Are 
you sick ? Come in here, I want to talk to you,” as she 
led him into the library. 

“ That’s always you, Maud,” replied Don, “ asking a 
dozen questions at once, never stopping until you are out 
of breath. If I look wretched, I simply look as I feel ; 
and, my dear little sister, were it not for you, I would 
want to end my life. Troubles seem to thicken every 
day, until 1 am weary and heart -sick, beyond endurance. 
But, pet, you look radiant to-night. What can have oc- 
curred ? You haven’t looked like this for a long time.” 

As he grew accustomed to the low, red-tinted light that 
the solitary shaded lamp diffused through the room, he 
could not fail to notice the brilliant flush on her cheeks. 

“ Don, I really do not think I ever was so happy in 
my life. But tell me, why did you not come home last 
night ? Now that is only one question. Please tell me 
the true reason,” Maud pleaded. 

“ The reason was the very best I could have ; it was 
entirely because father insisted on admitting that scoun- 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


21 I 


drel into the house. It would be an insult to name him 
in your presence, but you well know whom I mean. I 
assure you, Maud, I did all I could to prevent it, and 
when I failed, all 1 could do was to stay away myself. 

‘‘ And now, little girl, I think it best to tell you that I 
have just learned to-day something that has added an 
additional abhorrence to the detestable situation. Your 
cruelly faithless lover deserted you and betrayed my most 
implicit confidence for the illicit smiles and favors of — 
although I believe he is innocent of this fact, as yet — 
his sister.’’ 

‘‘ Don, are you sure of this ? ” ejaculated Maud, with a 
suppressed scream ; ‘‘ are you absolutely positive ? Oh ! 
if this could only be true.” 

‘‘ How in the world does it help the matter any, you 
silly child ; cannot you see that it only makes matters 
worse ? ” growled Don. I confess to a grim feeling of 
satisfaction, but is it possible you, too, desire so earnestly 
to be avenged ? ” 

“ Not at all, dearie, you and I were top hasty. Poor, 
dear, noble Jack! He has explained everything to me.” 

‘‘ Then you have seen him ? ” interrupted Don, with a 
cynical smile.. 

‘‘ Yes,” continued Maud, “ and you may be thankful the 
rest of your life that your protestations against his coming 
were of no avail. 

“ The scene I told you of was occasioned by Jack’s tell- 
ing this Minna about you and me, and saying that if she did 
not acknowledge knowing you he would turn her out in 
the street, and a lot of other things. I can’t go over it 
all now, but I am sure Dr. Lykin is as just and honorable 
as any one could be, and the most noble man in the 
world. 


212 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR, 


“ Oh ! Don, it would be so lovely if Minna really is his 
sister; but 1 can’t understand that. Why does he not 
know her.^ It seems we never will get matters clear.” 

‘‘ I wonder if Jack has been acting all right ? ” mused 
Don. “ It is possible we have been mistaken.” 

’ Not only possible, but an absolute fact,” insisted 
Maud. “ Come now, dearie, do you save the reputation 
of the family. Jack took the advantage of me, and his 
great, big, unselfish heart did not give me the slightest 
opportunity of asking him to forgive me. Now help me 
out ; come right along, and before Jack can say a word, 
go up to him, take him by the hand, and say : 

“Jack, Maud and I have treated you as though we were 
brutes and we throw ourselves entirely upon your mercy, 
suing for your old-time love and affection.” 

“ Lordie, Maud, that’s an awful lot to say.” Don was 
catching her enthusiasm. “ Jack's here, is he? Well, let 
us go and see him. After all, I suppose it is only fair 
that we should give the man an opportunity to say some- 
thing for himself.” 

“ Pity we could not have come to that wise conclusion 
some time ago,” retorted Maud ; “ but let us go upstairs. 
I left Nellie and Jack quarreling, and they, may murder 
each other if we leave them alone too long.” 

“ All right, come on.” So they raced up the stairs, in 
a very undignified manner. Walking straight up to Jack, 
Don extended his hand, as he said : 

“Jack, I am afraid I have done what would be, toward 
a less generous man, an unpardonable wrong. You need 
not explain to me now that I have been grossly mistaken 
during the past few weeks. Maud assures me of her per- 
fect faith in you, and a woman’s heart should outweigh a 
man's intellect. At our leisure, we will talk it all over; 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


213 

but for the hour let us try to be as joyful as we have been 
so recently depressed.’’ 

“ Spoken like yourself, old man,” said Jack, shaking his 
hand heartily. “ My record is open to you at any time 
you will do me the honor of examining it.” 

‘‘ Thank you,” said Don ; then, turning to Nellie : 
“ What, you demure little puss, do I find you still alive 
and unscathed } See how tricky you girls are. Now 
Maud was just telling me that you and Jack were quarrel* 
ing and unless we hurried to the rescue, it would be the 
end of one or the other; but to look at you, one would 
think you had been doing just the opposite to quarreling. 
Come, what have you and Jack been up to ? ” 

“ Why, what an exaggerator Maud is ! ” she replied. 
“We were only complimenting each other when Maud 
left us. She does not know what she is saying half of 
the time, does she, Mr. Jack ? ” 

“You can’t bring me into it,” said Jack, who was carry- 
ing on an earnest conversation with his fiancee, in an 
undertone. 

“ Oh, fie, Doctor, don’t be afraid of her ; come right 
out and say what you think.” 

“ Well then, I think,” replied Jack, changing the subject 
deftly, “ we would all better sit down here and let me tell 
you what I have been telling Maud, and what I am sure 
will interest you all, about Minna.” 

“ Pardon me. Jack,” interrupted Don, “ I want to tell 
you a little something first, after which you may have the 
floor.” 

“ Well, what is it ? ” asked Jack. “ It seems we all have 
so much to say that it is hard to decide who shall have 
the preference ; but I am satisfied to just sit and look at 
Maud, all the evening, if I do not get another word in.” 


214 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


That was pretty, Jack,^’ said Maud, with a bright 
smile. 

“ That was very silly, Nellie said, with a grimace — 
both in the same breath, which only goes to show what a 
difference of opinion there can be about a few spoken 
words. 

“ Jack, good friends as we have been, and much as I 
supposed you gave me your perfect confidence,’’ said Don, 
“ you never told me you had lost a little sister, very mysteri- 
ously, some years ago; yet I have just to-day been in- 
formed that such was the case, and it was told me by a 
perfect stranger, too.” 

“Now, do not feel hurt over that,” Jack replied. “I 
will tell you all we know about it, any time. It is the only 
really sad event in the immediate history of our family ; but 
it was such a blow that we seemed to have never recovered 
from it. So heavily did it fall on father, that we made 
it the study of our lives not to refer to it, of later years, in 
any way ; so that it has grown to be second nature with 
us all never to say a word about it, although I assure 
you Winnie (that was her name) is seldom absent from 
our minds. I am sure father broods over his loss day 
and night. 

“ Then, too, there has been no especial occasion for 
me to talk to you of this, and I would not just willfully 
inflict any of my sorrows upon you ; but who told you 
of it?” 

“No matter now who told me,” said Don. “You 
know she was lost on the prairie when she was about seven 
years old, so do I ; but I know she was stolen by one who 
had, or thought she had, cause for vengeance against 
your father : you did not know that. Then T know what 
you may still hope for, but it must be getting to be a very 


PROPER TV OP DON C/LB A R. 2 1 g 

faint hope, that she is yet alive. I have seen her in the 
last few days ; so have you, Jack. If what I have so far 
claimed to know is true, then it is also true that Minna 
is ” 

At the pronouncing of Minna’s name. Jack sprang to 
his feet. 

Oh ! father, for your sake, more than all the rest, I 
thank God,” he said. “ I see it all now. Why could I 
not discern this before ? When she shades her eyes with 
her hand, she is father to a dot ; when she commands, it 
is the. same low, sweet voice that father has; but there is 
force behind that which is irresistible, and the most 
obstinate never think but to obey. Thousands of times 
the light has been breaking through to my weak brain ; 
but I could not grasp the thought. Never for an instant 
did it dawn upon me that it was our Winfred. 

“ Fool, fool, fool that I have been ! And Don, my 
more than friend, it is you who brings this great joy to 
us. We can never reward you.” 

And Jack paced the floor in a perfect paroxysm of joy, 
embracing Don and both the young ladies, with equal 
force and favor. Of course this unnatural state of affairs 
could not last long, and he soon grew calm. 

Then he asked : “ Would you telegraph home, or write, 
or what would you do ? ” 

Maud answered : “ I think I would write to Nellie’s 
father, or someone else who will break the news gently 
to your people ; a telegram would never do, and even a 
letter, no matter how carefully written, might result very 
seriously.” 

‘‘ I think just like Maud,” chimed in Nellie. “ Some 
one should tell your father this, so as not to startle him ; 
but it would never do to trust papa with such a mission. 


2 T 6 PROPER TY OF DON GILBA R. 

Poor, dear papa I 1 can just imagine him reading your 
letter, and then it would be : 

“ ‘ Well, I swan ! Don’t that beat you, mother ? ’ 

“ Then out he would go, saddle up old Dolly and run 
her every step of the way to the Squire’s. He would try 
to ride the whole distance in an hour, and Mr. Jack’s 
folks would be frightened at the start to see him coming 
at a break-neck speed. Should he see the Squire rushing 
out at hearing Dolly’s hoofs, he would blurt right out : 

“ ‘ Hugh, your little girl is found. They sent word to 
me to tell you, for fear you couldn’t stand it if they, wrote 
you.’ 

“ That’s the way papa would break it gently. No, no ; 
it might do to risk a telegram, but never to trust it to 
papa.” 

“ I’ll write mother,” said Jack, at last. “ She will take 
it calmly and know best how to tell father. Yes, I will 
write her. I wonder how Winnie will take it ? Will she 
remember any of us? You know I am only two years 
older than she, and we were playmates together, as well as 
brother and sister. Well, I will write mother to-night, 
that is the first thing.” 

“Jack, you must take me to see your sister to-morrow 
morning,” said Maud, “ then we will have her come right 
here and stay until your father is prepared for her home- 
coming.” 

“ You are too good, Maud,” Jack replied. “ Wait 
until we are married. Then I will have the whole family 
come, and we will give you a little insight into what enter- 
taining ‘ country cousins,’ means.” 

“ They will be perfectly welcome,” Maud said gayly. 
“ But indeed, Jack, I am in earnest. You will naturally 
wish to devote a good portion of your time to her, and if 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


217 


we are all together, I shall not be deprived of your com- 
pany so often, and I am sure it will be a pleasure to us 
all to have her.” 

“ Yes, do please have her come, Mr. Jack,” urged Nellie, 
adding her influence to the pressure that was being brought 
to bear. ‘‘ I would want her to come right in with me. 
Remember it was I who found her, and she never would 
have come to New York, only for me. We all want her, 
don’t we, Mr. Don ? ” with a sly glance in that gentleman’s 
direction. 

‘‘You would hardly expect me to object to anything 
the ladies so much favor,” Don answered. 

“ Oh my ! ” laughed Nellie, “ what a matter of perfect 
indifference it is to you whether she comes or not. We 
ladies are certainly very grateful for the disinterested 
support we are receiving from the young master.” 

“ Go ahead, Nellie,” said Don, with a broad smile. “ I 
prefer your withering sarcasm to laying bare my heart be- 
fore this select assembly. What is it, George } ” turn- 
ing to that functionary, as he appeared in the door- 
way. 

“ If you please, sir, Mr. Gilbar would like to see the 
doctor a few moments.” 

“ I will go right along with you,” said Jack, jumping 
up. “ I hope Mr. Gilbar isn’t uncomfortable, or that any- 
thing is going wrong. Excuse me, Maud ; I will be back 
presently, Don,” and, nodding to Nellie, the young doctor 
repaired to Mr. Gilbar’s room, where he found that the 
natural swelling from the recent operation had caused the 
bandages to tighten uncomfortably. 

Mr. Gilbar explained that his nurse could have given 
him the necessary attention, but that Mrs. Gilbar had told 
him, inadvertently, that Doctor Lykin was spending the 


2i8 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


evening with Maud and that she believed Don was home, 
also ; and he wanted the opportunity of congratulating 
Jack upon the happy termination of their misunderstand- 
ing as, under the circumstances, he naturally supposed 
that any slight unpleasantness which possibly had existed 
was now removed. 

Jack attempted to go over the story with his pros- 
pective father-in-law, but Mr. Gilbar said : 

“ No, my boy, not a word ; I cannot be annoyed with 
all these little foibles. My only suggestion is that, as I 
understand you have your matters all settled in the West, 
you have Maud name an early day for your wedding. Then 
take a good, long trip before you become overwhelmed 
with patients ; plan for a good, long extended tour. They 
tell me Don has been making some especially lucky turns 
on the Street, and I will see that he pays the expenses, 
as a wedding gift to Maud. Now make them big, so that 
Don can do himself justice.” 

“ How can 1 ever thank you, Mr. Gilbar ? So far as 
the wedding-day is concerned, I wish it could be to-mor- 
row ; the other matter, giving you credit as I do for such 
laudable intentions, it would be discourteous to flatly re- 
fuse, therefore it should be discussed and I hardly know 
how to begin.” 

“ Then don’t begin,” interrupted Mr. Gilbar. “ Now, 
Doctor, 1 have always given you credit for being a sensi- 
ble young man and in the future let us have no foolish- 
ness between you and me. I know^ that you are not at 
all mercenary, and having said this once, it is not neces- 
sary for me to repeat it. As soon as you and Maud are 
married, I intend to settle such an amount upon her that 
you cannot spend the half of the income it will bring you ; 
so that you need never give a thought to money matters. 


PROPEkTY OF DON G/LPAP. 


This will leave you free to pursue your profession, until 
you have attained the highest degree. 

If I live to see the day when I am spoken of as ‘ Dr. 
Lykin’s father-in-law/ I shall feel fully repaid for what 
little I shall have done in furthering your advancement. 

“ Not another word,’’ as Jack again began to interpose 
objections. 1 do not wish to speak of this after to- 
night; and you will disappoint me beyond measure if 
you ever at any time raise a dissenting voice to my plans 
in regard to you and Maud. I hope we understand each 
other. Now go and talk it over with Maud, and the 
sooner you are married the more pleased I shall be.” 

There seemed to be very little left for Jack to say, so 
he merely replied : 

“ 1 trust we shall all live long enough for me to show 
my appreciation of your exceptional generosity. I feel 
confident you will rest easily to-night, and that we shall 
have you out in a very short time. Good-night, sir.” 

After Jack left Mr. Gilbar, he found Maud waiting 
alone for him. Nellie might have been found, had they 
taken a little trouble to look for her, deeply engrossed in 
the pages of a love story ; but, strange to relate, they 
did not take this slight trouble to look for her. As for 
Don, Maud, with the meekest simplicity, proposed : 

“ Do not let us bother him. No doubt the poor fellow is 
very tired with the busy day I am sure he must have 
had.” 

So they were left in undisputed solitude, of which Jack 
made the very best use in obeying Mr. Gilbar’s edicts 
and prevailing upon Maud to name the all-important day. 

“ My heart is ready to fly to you at once, dear,” said 
Maud ; but there are innumerable material arrangements 
that are necessary and require time ; I could not possibly 


220 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


promise to be ready, before — let me see — ” and then, 
after a moment of the profoundest thought and appar- 
ently accurate calculations, Maud named a day in the 
halcyon month of October. That most important matter 
being settled, they passed on to another only a little less 
interesting subject. 

“ Jack, you are sure that we have not jumped at a con- 
clusion too hastily?'^ said Maud. “ Is there no possibil- 
ity of our being mistaken, and Minna not being your 
sister, after all ? ” 

“ There is not the slightest doubt about it,” Jack as- 
sured her. 

“ I am only surprised that I did not discover it myself. 
Why, the very first time I ever saw her, there was some- 
thing familiar about her, and some undefined power drew 
me toward her. No, Maud, it is surely just as Don told 
it.” 

“ How early dare we go to see her in the morning t ” 
asked Maud, bright anticipation sparkling in her eyes. 
‘‘ You can’t imagine how impatient 1 am, and it was so 
nice of you to consent to her coming here.” 

“ What a diplomat you are, Maud,” laughed Jack “ I 
do not remember having consented to this at all ; yet I 
am really more than willing that she should come ; it will 
be so very much more pleasant for her than anywhere 
else. So, if she wants to come — and I guess there is no 
doubt about that — it will be another payment of hap- 
piness by you to me. How can I ever get out of 
debt ? ” 

“You have paid me back with interest for all the pleas- 
ure I have ever given you, so there is nothing due on that 
score.” 

Then the conversation drifted on. They talked of the 


PROPERTY OF DOiX GlLPAR. 


22 1 


few weeks just past, that had dragged so heavily for them 
both, and of Don and Mr. Gilbar’s affliction, together with 
the prospect of his speedy recovery, and various other 
matters, until it was time for Jack to leave. 

That night Jack wrote his good old mother a long, care- 
fully-worded letter, so that as she should follow the lines 
of his bold, plain handwriting, the truth would gradually 
dawn upon her that their little girl, the father’s favorite, 
over whom there had been so many years of anxious long’ 
ing, had been found ; true, not the little girl she was 
when taken from them, but a beautiful woman, lovely in 
face and figure, of a charming disposition, and in every 
way a daughter that the fondest parents might look upon 
with pride. 

There was no need to warn the faithful wife that she 
should impart the glad tidings most carefully to her lov- 
ing spouse ; but of this, too, did Jack write. 

When through, the young doctor felt that he had done 
what was best and could calmly await the result, being a 
firm believer that “joy never kills.” 

Maud was up betimes the next morning and nervously 
awaiting Jack’s coming. He was not so very late, but 
they were only just in time to intercept Minna as she was 
going out. Jack accosted her with : 

‘‘ We are just in time, aren’t we, Minna ? ” and taking 
her proffered hand, he pressed it with a new-found tender- 
ness. “ Minna, allow me to present to you Miss Gilbar, 
of whom you have so often heard me speak.” 

The beautiful girl raised her wondrous eyes with a look 
of divine thankfulness. 

“ Oh ! how delighted I am that we at last meet. Your 
coming with Dr. Lykin has a double significance ; it tells 
me that my unfortunate conduct, the only time before 


PROPERTY OF DO Ft CILPAR. 


that you ever saw me, is no longer a bar to the happiness 
of you both.’^ 

“ No, Winnie, that has all been explained, and the doc- 
tor and I understand each other again,’’ Maud said, with a 
faint little blush at the reference to herself and Jack ; ‘‘ and 
I have wanted to see you 30 badly, as we have both heard 
so much of each other. I trust it will not take long for 
us to become fully acquainted and, if you will not think 
me too forward, I want to ask you to come home with me 
and stay just as long as you can be contented. Will you 
come, Winnie ? ” 

“ Why do you call me ‘ Winnie ? ’ ” 

“ Because that is your name ; did you not tell me, Doc- 
tor, that your sister’s name was Winfred ? ” 

“Winnie, Winnie, Winfred, the doctor’s sister?” mur- 
mured the beautiful girl. “ It seems to me I was Winnie, 
somebody’s little sister Winnie ; but that must have been 
so long ago.” 

“ Do you remember it ? ” cried Jack eagerly. “ Do you 
remember father and mother and the freckled lad that 
dug out chipmunks with you on the prairies ? Can you 
remember any of these things, Winnie ? ” 

“ Yes, I think I remember all of that ; oh, I am sure I 
do. I wonder where Jack is? How I should love to see 
him.” 

“ I am he ; this is Jack grown up just the same as you 
are.” 

“ How wonderful ! ” she continued, her eyes growing 
larger and brighter and the color rising in her cheeks 
from the excitement and interest that was so unexpectedly 
being brought before her. “ How I should love to be- 
lieve that you are truly Jack, as you say you are. Doctor. 
Something tells me that it is as you say. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


223 


And where is papa ? Why is he not here ? I remem- 
ber going way out on the prairie to meet him one day 
when he was away, and I must have lost my way for I 
couldn’t find papa. 

‘‘ When I started to return I never got back home 
again. After a while I came up with some people who 
were traveling and they told me they would take me 
home ; but I think they must have not known who I was 
or where I wanted to go. This certainly was many years 
ago. And now here I am in the city, and you, Doctor, 
my best friend, tell me I am your sister. Why did you 
not take me home when you found me on the plains, as 
you are all the time telling me you did ? ” 

“ Well, you see, Winnie,” explained Jack, “ I did not 
know you were my sister until yesterday ; but we shall 
have plenty of time to tell you all about that. I have 
written mother that we have found you, and that our little 
girl is now a very beautiful young lady, and just as kind 
and good as she is beautiful.” 

“ Do all brothers say such nice things about their sis- 
ters ? ” asked Winfred, with a merry laugh, “ or is this 
one especially complimentary ?” 

“Well, in the first place,” Maud assured her, “all 
brothers are not fortunate enough to be able to say 
nice things truthfully; then, too, I suppose Jack would 
snub me for a week if I didn’t add something about his 
being an exceptional brother.” 

“Upon my word,” interrupted Jack, “you deserve 
much credit for speaking well of me, as you evidently do 
so entirely from a sense of duty. 

“But come, Winnie, Miss Gilbar has kindly invited you 
to spend the time that must intervene before we can hear 
from father at her home, and I can vouch for her really 


224 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


being desirous of your accepting the invitation. So what 
do you say } Would you like to go, and how soon could 
you be ready ? ” 

“ I should love above all things to go with Miss Gilbar. 
It has been my dream for the past few weeks to know 
you and to make you let me love you.” 

While Winnie was speaking, she, with an almost imper- 
ceptible movement, gently placed her arm about Maud’s 
waist. 

“ And this was when I thought of you as the promised 
wife of only my best friend ; but now that you will be my 
sister, my heart goes out to you all the more.” 

Then after imprinting a kiss on Maud’s fair brow, she 
withdrew her tender embrace as she inquired : 

But are you sure that my coming will not in any way 
be a burden to you ? ” 

‘‘ Indeed, it can be nothing but a pleasure,” Maud as- 
sured her. 

So, before nightfall, Winfred was comfortably domiciled 
in the Gilbar mansion, and never had the Gilbars a more 
welcome guest. 

Her dazzling beauty caught every eye and held it en- 
tranced, while her stately, although at the same time 
thoroughly affable, ways won the hearts of all who came 
in contact with her. 

It could soon be seen that she had a true sisterly affec- 
tion for Dr. Lykin, but for this her heart had been pre- 
pared during the long weeks that he had been so kind and 
faithful to her. She was not as restless or impatient to 
see her father and mother as might have been expected. 
She would ask every day, with evident interest, if any- 
thing had been heard from them ; but having been so 
long parted from her home ties, and so much of her life 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 225 

being a blank to her, she seemed to fit into the pleasures 
and gaieties about her without any pining for other asso- 
ciations. 

Don and Nellie happening to meet in the hall the first 
evening, came into the room together and met Winnie. 
Maud introduced them with the least possible ceremony, 
simply saying: “Miss Miller and my brother, Don, 
Winnie.” 

Don waited a moment, until the greeting between the 
ladies was over, and then he extended his hand and as- 
sured her of a hearty welcome, as he said, with a pleasant 
smile : 

“ We have met before. Jack, here, tells me that he 
does not think I will have much difficulty in gaining your 
acknowledgment of one meeting ; but you see I have laid 
claim to a long-time friendship existing between us. I 
am right in this, am I not ? Now be careful ; remember 
these folks are terrible teasers and unless you support 
my bold assertion they will worry me distracted.” 

As Don paused for a reply, he motioned her to be 
seated, placing a chair by her side for himself. 

“ 1 surely met you in the Park a few evenings ago,” 
she answered, the infectiousness of lion’s smiling counte- 
nance reflected in her own bright eyes. “It would be in- 
human of me to deny that meeting, and 1 remember that 
both by manner and words you claimed prior acquaint- 
ance with me at that time.” 

“ There, did I not tell you so ? ” exclaimed Don, turn- 
ing triumphantly to the others. 

“ Oh, that proves nothing,” they all agreed. 

“ But, as I said then,” continued Winnie, “ much as I 
wish for your sake it could be otherwise, 1 am sure I 
do not remember ever setting eyes upon you before.” 

IS 


226 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ Disappointed again,” Don pretended to growl, although 
he had expected nothing else. “ Well, I am a ver}^ per- 
sistent fellow and will wager you a sealskin sack against 
one of your bright smiles that you will acknowledge in 
the presence of these witnesses, before snow flies, that 
you and 1 are old friends and have spent weeks in each 
other’s society.” 

‘‘ What a reckless gambler you are, Mr. Gilbar ! I 
have so little to pay, even should I lose, compared with 
your handsome wager ; besides, you haven’t a shadow of 
a chance for winning.” 

“The wager is unequal, I grant you,” said Don, in a 
low voice. “ For one of your sweet smiles I would give 
all the seals in Alaska.” 

“Oh, say, Don,” broke in Jack, “we all heard that, and 
it must be stopped ; you are doing the other ladies a 
great injustice, and I won’t sit still and listen to it.” 

“ That will do, gentlemen ; the foils are on the next 
floor ; go there and fight this out immediately,” com- 
manded Nellie. 

However, the combined efforts of the ladies restored 
peace without their being deprived of the company of 
the fierce combatants. 

Something more than a week passed before Jack re- 
ceived an answer to his letter to his mother. When 
it came, it was full of thankfulness for this great and 
unexpected happiness. 

The Squire had received the joyful news with a calm 
delight, his deep thankfulness being almost pitiful to be- 
hold. Anticipating some possible excuse, or delay, over 
Winnie’s coming home at once, he had started for New 
York the same day as the letter and might be expected 
any hour. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


227 


He had the address of Jack’s office and would come 
there first; so, with a spirit of mercy, Jack was to see 
that there should be no unnecessary delay after the Squire 
reached the city to prevent his meeting his beloved and 
long-lost child. 


228 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR, 


CHAPTER XVI. 

It was later in the day than he had expected when a 
hansom came rattling up to the curb and stopped in front 
of Dr. Lykin's down town office. True, Jack had not 
been advised definitely as to what train his father would 
come on, but by studying the railway guide he had decided 
that if the Squire made proper connections from the West, 
he would be due in the city at a certain hour. 

As it was much past this time. Jack had just about 
come to the conclusion that his father would not reach 
New York until some time in the night, when that gentle- 
man stepped nimbly from the vehicle that had just drawn 
up to the side of the pavement, paid his fare and walked 
briskly into the doctor's office. 

The young surgeon was putting in his time examining 
a new case of instruments that had been received that 
day. Hearing someone enter the room, he turned about 
as his father interrogated : 

“ Is this Doctor ’’ and then noticing who it was stand- 

ing at the table, Hollo, Jack ! Glad to see you, my 
boy,'’ grasping his hand and giving it a hearty shake. 

“ Why, how d’y' do } I have been looking for you for 
the last two hours. Upon my word, you are looking well ; 
you look ten years younger than you did when I left you." 

‘‘And I feel twenty years younger," said the Squire. 
“ You can’t know what a weight has been lifted from my 
mind, nor what a joy has been carried to my heart. I 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


229 


don’t think 1 ever gave up the hope of finding Winnie 
some day ; but it was a great drain upon my will power 
to maintain this faith for so many years. 

“ If Winnie had died when she was a little girl, I would 
have, in time, recovered from the blow ; but the uncertainty 
of her fate made me an old man comparatively early in 
life.” 

As he looked, while speaking. Squire Lykin would 
have attracted attention anywhere ; his lustrous black 
eyes sparkling with life and animation ; the utmost good 
will and happy expectancy beaming from his bronzed face. 

As he stood there, firm and erect, the sad, hopeless ex- 
pression that he had worn so constantly in later years, 
had disappeared entirely from his mouth, and the parted 
lips, disclosing a remarkable set of white teeth, consider- 
ing his age, had a curl about them that would lead one 
to think there might be a good deal of mischief in the old 
man yet. 

Sit down a minute, father,” said Jack. “ 1 appre- 
ciate how impatient you must be to go at once to Winnie ; 
so I will not keep you long ; but there are one or two 
things 1 wish to say.” 

“ d’here is nothing the matter, is there. Jack ? ” inquired 
his father, anxiously. “ 1 can stand any amount of ad- 
ditional good news, but any disappointment now I be- 
lieve would kill me.” 

‘‘Oh! no,” Jack assured him. “I did not mean to 
startle you. Winnie is here, within twenty minutes’ ride 
of us. She is perfectly well and happy, and you would 
be justified in being the proudest parent in the city to-night. 
Just as I wrote mother, you could not find a sweeter, kinder- 
tempered girl anywhere. And you will also agree with 
me, for I used to hear them say that you were once a 


230 


PROPERTY OF DOJV G I LEAR. 


judge in such matters/’ this, with a mischievous smile, 
“that your daughter is the most radiantly beautiful girl 
that you ever saw. But this is what I want to say, 
father : 

“You have in your mind’s eye a little girl, all affection, 
who would run to you, climb into your lap and be in for 
a romp, pulling your whiskers and plying you with a 
thousand inconsistent questions ; but what you will see 
in a few minutes is a young lady, tall and magnificently 
developed, with a dignity that is a part of her. And 
while I am sure she will welcome you with all the tender 
love and affection that she has for you, yet it may be she 
will do this in a different way from what you are expect- 
ing, and it is only to prepare you for this greeting, so 
that your joy may not be overshadowed with even a shade 
of disappointment, that I wish to tell you this.” 

“Well, Jack, I understand just what you wish to 
express,” replied the Squire, “ and I am fully prepared 
for the natural state of affairs. I well know that it is 
impossible to turn back the wheels of time and to have 
everything just- as it was ten or twelve years ago. Do 
not have any anxiety on my account. The inestimable 
joy of finding Winnie alive and a pure, noble woman, 
will overbalance any possible desire for the happy days 
when she was a little girl and the light of her doting 
father’s eyes.” 

“ Good,” said Jack, “ my coupe is at the door. We will 
start at once. Our friends, no doubt, are anxiously 
awaiting our coming.” 

The meeting between Winnie and her father was most 
affecting ; only for a brief moment did the beautiful girl 
stand with a timorous hesitancy, then she gave free vent 
to her overpowering feelings and, unmindful of the 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 23 1 

presence of those about her, rushed into her father’s 
arms. 

“ Papa, dear Papa,” was all she could articulate, as 
she kissed him over and over again. 

For a time they left father and child alone. What 
these happy moments were to the honest old farmer is 
beyond describing. 

When he joined the family circle later on, he was 
running over with exuberant spirits and proved to be a 
most entertaining acquisition to the little company. 

He teased Jack and Maud to his heart’s content, 
appealing to Don for confirmation and support in all his 
playful sallies. 

Mrs. Gilbar he repeatedly complimented, with old-time 
gallantry, while little Nellie the old Squire courted in 
the most extravagant manner, much to the amusement of 
that young lady herself and to the others as well. 

He was the life of the evening and when Mr. Gilbar 
joined them, later on, the Squire began telling him such 
extraordinary tales about the vast possibilities and profits 
in the cattle business on the ranches, that Jack thought it 
best to check him. 

“ By George ! father, for the credit of the family I can’t 
sit still and let you get off such whoppers ; the idea of 
one man owning a million head of cattle.” 

“ Why, certainly he could,” insisted the Squire, “ these 
immense ranges are just opening up ; you don’t ” 

‘‘Oh, well, all right,” interrupted Jack, laughing. 
“ Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Lykin is not used to the 
strong cigars and wine he has had this evening ; so you 
will have to bear with him and make an allowance for his 
extravagant ideas.” 

“Jack, you rascal, go right home and straight to bed,” 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


232 

commanded his father, with feigned severity. “ Not 
another word out of you, sir ; and you will know it when 
I let you go calling again.’’ 

But in spite of these interruptions, which were repeated 
at intervals, the Squire succeeded in imbuing Mr. Gilbar 
with the idea that there was money to be made in the 
West, as well as in Wall Street, and securing his partial 
promise that as soon as he fully recovered his health 
he would take “ a flyer ” on some of Squire Lykin’s 
Western schemes. 

After spending some ten days in the city. Squire Lykin 
was ready to return to the West. Winfred could hardly 
decide whether to return with him or remain in the city. 
Finally, upon Maud’s earnest solicitations, it was deter- 
mined that she would stay until after Maud’s wedding, as 
that time was not so very far distant. Immediately after 
that event Winnie would go home, and as Mr. and Mrs. 
Gilbar were expecting to go abroad for the Winter, they 
would close the house, for a time, and Nellie Miller, too, 
would return to the West. 

The days and weeks had gone by, as days and weeks 
have a habit of doing, until there were only seven days 
more before the day upon which Maud and Jack were to 
be married. 

Winfred Lykin had appeared in the firmament of fash- 
ionable society as the most brilliant star that had ever 
passed before the all-powerful and searching lens of the 
critics’ telescope. 

She seemed to be above criticism, both in her manners 
and extreme beauty ; she was constantly spoken of in the 
best circles, but no one was ever heard to say that they 
wished that this, that, or the other thing about her could 
be a little different. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


^33 


Don was wholly and completely enraptured with her, 
and the constant attention she received from so many 
really desirable quarters kept him in a perfect ferment of 
uncertainty. 

This state of mind was very materially abetted by 
Winfred's manner toward him. She was at all times the 
very personification of affability ; at the same time there 
was a certain proud demeanor in her actions that held 
him aloof, while it bound him all the more securely to her. 

Since the first slight insinuation Don had made the 
evening of her coming to his home, he had never touched 
in the most remote degree upon the subject of his having 
met her before she came to the city. He feared that, 
should he insist on this, it might place him in a false 
light ; and as yet he was by no means so confident of his 
position in her widening circle of friends as to risk so 
bold a “ coup de inaitrc ’’ as he regarded the telling her 
of the life they led during the past Winter would be. 

A select company of Don’s most intimate friends were 
taking a trip up the Hudson in Don’s handsome yacht, 
d’hey had been discussing the approaching wedding, until 
first one and then another had apparently tired of the 
subject for a time and vvere scattering to different parts 
of the commodious boat. 

Don, as host, saw that each one of his guests was well 
provided with all the comforts the circumstances per- 
mitted ; and as they all seemed to be enjoying themselves, 
he felt at liberty to follow Winfred to the upper deck, 
where his ever-watchful eye had seen her disappear a few 
minutes before. 

Don had exerted a more or less amount of generalship 
in pairing his party, so that he found Winfred alone, just 
as he expected he would. 


234 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


‘‘ And how is Miss Lykin enjoying it ? ” he asked, as 
he drew near hen 

“ This is perfectly delightful, Mr. Gilbar,’^ she replied, 
with the rosiest of smiles, “ How good and generous 
you are to enable so many of us to pass such a happy day ! 
It is well when vast wealth is placed in such hands as 
yours.’' 

Please stop right there, Miss Winfred.” 

Don had no intention of allowing the time to be wasted 
on generalities, nor was his a character that would quietly 
listen to undeserved praise. 

Do not say another word,” he begged, “ about my 
being good and generous. I have led the most selfish 
life imaginable ; never did a thing that was of any use to 
anyone ; in fact, I never did anything of any account for 
myself except kill time, and even this trip to-day was 
planned by me through a thoroughly selfish motive. That 
motive was that I might spend the day with you, and I 
could conceive of no greater pleasure than that would 
be.” 

“ Oh, I am so glad my presence will be a pleasure to 
you,” Miss Lykin replied. 

The very calmness wfith which she spoke, the total 
absence of any coquetry, took away the whole force of 
Don’s plain-spoken compliment. 

“ But you do not do yourself justice,” she continued ; 
“ you could just as well have enjoyed my company at 
home ; and had you been so selfish, that is what you 
would have done ; but, instead, you make us both happy, 
as well as your other friends, by giving us this lovely ride 
which has grown so old to you that I have no doubt it is 
very tiresome.” 

‘‘ Then you are happy only because of the boat ride ? ’' 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


235 

asked Don, “ and my being here isn’t to be taken into 
account ? ” 

“ What causes that long straight line in our wake ? ’’ 
inquired INliss Lykin, completely ignoring Don’s pointed 
question. 

As she had apparently taken no notice of his last words, 
Don began to grow a little irritated. 

His sojourn with this beautiful girl the Winter before 
and her undisguised love for him at that time were ever 
present in Don’s mind, and it was distressing to him in 
the extreme to have her now treat him no worse, it was 
true, but at the same time, very little, if any, better than 
she did the other gentlemen about her. 

Miss Lykin,” he said, unable to wholly keep some 
of the feeling out of his voice, if it were anyone else 
but you, I would be persuaded that there was a deliber- 
ate effort being made to keep everything of a strictly 
personal character out of the conversation. There was a 
time when you were unwilling to talk of anything but 
ourselves ; for as I have said at other times, our ac- 
quaintance dates back of our meeting in the Park.” 

‘‘ Now, Don,” — it was the first time she had ever called 
him ‘‘ Don ” and it sent a thrill of such exquisite joy 
through his veins that he was fully repaid for bringing 
this tete-a-tete about — I will not plead ignorance of 
your meaning. As your sister’s guest, and partaking, as 
I do, from day to day of your kind courtesies, I cannot 
find it in my heart to feel provoked at your pressing this 
strange tale upon me. Jack has told me parts, at different 
times, until I think I have the whole; and now, once for 
all, I wish to tell you, what I have never told him, that 
there must be some strange mistake somewhere. That I 
never met you before the evening you so bravely defended 


236 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 

me I cannot be sure of, for there is a period in iny life 
that it is impossible for me to account for ; but even 
granting what Jack has told me of you and me to be true, 
whatever may have occurred, please understand, so far as 
my part in it was concerned, I was entirely unaccount- 
able for what I did ; and for you to refer to that time in 
the most remote degree will be the most unpleasant thing 
that I can imagine. 

When you speak of a previous acquaintanceship between 
us, it can only lead, should we pursue the topic, to the 
most embarrassing subjects for me. At first, I cared 
very little, in fact not at all, for what you said ; but, now 
that I know from Jack all that is in your mind, I hope 
you care enough for me not to endeavor to press upon 
me a subject, a history, that redounds so much to my dis- 
credit. Shall we join the others, Mr. Gilbar ? I think I 
should like to go below.” 

What could Don say } Winfred had a way about her 
that impressed him that she was right. She had spoken 
with the most tender kindness and, at the same time, with 
such a haughty mien, that he felt at once her superiority. 
Still he must make some excuse ; it would never do to 
part with her so. 

‘‘ Miss Lykin, you evidently misconstrue my meaning 
and intentions, since Jack has told you how and where I 
first met you. You must understand that our relations 
were of the most pleasing character to me, and I try to 
refer to that time solely because I wish to re-establish the 
claims I then had to your regard.” Don said all this 
earnestly, but she would not listen to him further. 

‘‘Enough,’ she said, “another word and you will dis- 
please me beyond forgiveness ; if you aspire to my affec- 
tion in the slightest degree, or to the least extent of the 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


237 

position you insist you once held, you must cease this 
referring to the past and begin anew.” 

Then wait, let me begin now;” cried Don, as she 
began moving toward the companionway. “ Do not tell 
me I have already offended you.” 

“ No, not now,” she replied, with her ravishing smile. 
“ You have not offended me; but do not let us talk of 
this more to-day; ” and before Don could say anything 
further, she had disappeared down the hatchway . 

In spite of his most earnest endeavors, he was unable 
to speak to her again alone during that afternoon and in 
fact until after the wedding, as the following week was one 
of excitement and preparation incident to the approach- 
ing nuptials. 

At last the day arrived and the weather was everything 
they could wish for, bright and clear and unusually cool 
for so early in the Autumn. 

Maud made a very sweet looking bride, and long after- 
wards the guests spoke of the ceremony and subsequent 
festivities with the most enthusiastic encomiums. 

Dr. Lykin and his bride had started on what was in- 
tended to be an extended tour, and in a few days more 
the Gilbar mansion would be closed for an indefinite 
period. 

The evening after the wedding Don found himself once 
more alone with Winfred. She and Nellie had their 
trunks packed and were ready to start for the West the 
next day. 

“ Whatever shall I do after you are all gone ? ” asked 
Don of his beautiful companion. 

It will seem a little strange, for a time,” Winfred 
replied, “but you will not mind it long. Maud has often 
told me how you cared for your club life only, and you 


238 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 

will have that just the same ; in fact, you will be left un* 
disturbed to follow your inclinations.” 

“ 1 suppose you are very impatient to get away,” Don 
continued. ‘‘ Do you imagine you will enjoy a country 
life, or would you care more for living here in the city ? ” 

“ Well, I don’t know about that,” she replied. “ 1 have 
been so happy here, the past few weeks ; every one has 
been so kind to me ; there is so much excitement and 
animation about the life you lead here, that I am not sure 
how it will be when I get home. Of course I am anxious 
to see papa again and I have no doubt 1 shall be very 
happy out there, too.” 

“ Still,” mused Don, aloud, “ the prairies do not seem 
to be the place for you, and your short reign, as belle of 
the season, is only the stepping-stone to a brilliant future, 
if you will but come again and ascend triumphantly the 
throne of fashion.” 

‘‘ What a flatterer you are, Mr. Gilbar,” she laughed. 
“ Do you talk so to all the young ladies } ” 

“ Upon my word, I never spoke so to anyone before,” 
he retorted, “ or at least, if I have, I did not mean it.” 

“It is well you added that last,” she said. “By the 
way, Mr. Gilbar, did you know that Nellie and I would 
have company as far as Chicago ? Lieutenant Vasey's 
furlough has expired, or at least will expire in a few days, 
he told me last evening, and he has kindly offered to 
escort us a part of the distance, as he will be returning to 
his post of duty.” 

“Vasey’s kindness is very disinterested, I am sure,” 
interrupted Don, flushing up. “ I wonder why he never 
said a word of this to me to-day. 

“ I met him in the gymnasium this morning and, as he 
said he was a little sore and stiff from last night’s dissi- 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


239 


pation (no wonder he was sore, waltzing so much with 
you ”) — this last sotto iwce^ — “ he wanted me to put on 
the gloves with him. Charlie is a very good sparrer, but 
he seemed to be preoccupied some way this morning and 
left his guard open repeatedly. As a gentleman I of 
course did not take advantage of this : I wish, now, 1 had 
knocked him down.’^ 

‘‘ And, pray, what has happened ? asked Winfred, 
with a look of amusement out of her big eyes at Don’s 
vehemence. ‘‘ What has caused you to change your 
mind so suddenly and to think this evening, any more 
than this morning, that it would be gentlemanly to knock 
down a man who was not up -to his usual form, in a 
friendly encounter? ’’ 

‘‘Well, then, why is he going to the front so soon ? [ 

am sure his leave is not over for ten days or two weeks 
yet,’^ said Don. “ He is going just because he wants to 
follow you. I suppose he will go on home with you?’’ 

“ I most certainly shall ask him to, now that you have 
told me he has the time yet to spare,” was Winfred’s com- 
forting assurance, “ although I should not have tempted 
him from his duty had you not told me this.” 

Don bit his lip with annoyance, and then inquired : 

“Are you in love with Vasey, Miss Lykin ? ” 

“ I should think I ought to answer that question to 
Lieutenant Vasey, himself, first, and of course I can’t tell 
him until he asks me.” 

“ Oh, he hasn’t asked you yet ? ” 

“ I beg your pardon, Mr. Gilbar; but aren’t you grow- 
ing a little personal ? ” 

“ Well, perhaps I am. The only excuse I have to offer 
is my own deep feelings where you are concerned.” 

Lieutenant Vasey had apparently been the most favored 


PROPERTY OF DON GILRAR. 


240 

of all the gentlemen who had vied with each other in pay- 
ing court to the lovely girl, the short time she had ap- 
peared among them. He was of a good old family, with 
fair financial prospects and one of Custer’s most favored 
young officers. Being of a sunny temperament, versatile 
and full of incidents that he had picked up in his varied 
life, he was the best of company, so that it would have 
been a matter of surprise had any young lady been indif- 
ferent to his attentions. 

Don and Charlie Vasey had been boys together and at 
all times were very good friends. The young Lieuten- 
ant’s attentions to Winfred had not been especially no- 
ticed by Don, as he was closely occupied, as yet, with his 
father’s business, and they had been together many times 
that Don did not know of ; besides, there were so many 
always hovering about Winfred that it was hard to say 
that she preferred one to another. 

But when it came to a matter of young Vasey leaving 
his boon companions and returning to his command be- 
fore the time his leave had expired, the case must be get- 
ting serious ; and then, what if Vasey should accompany 
Miss Lykin all the way home and spend two weeks 
there ? What possibilities there were in two weeks ! 
They would be dependent largely on each other for 
amusement ; and, all at once, it seemed to break upon 
Don that they were in love with each other already. 

Miss Lykin,” he said after a short time, “ I wish you 
wouldn’t ask Vasey home with you ; of course, if you 
have consented to his going as far as Chicago, I suppose 
there is no way of getting out of that ; but please draw 
the line at Chicago.” 

And why shouldn’t 1 invite him home 1 I will be lone- 
some at times, unless you will come and make us a visit.” 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


241 


“Would you like to have me?” cried Don, his hopes 
bounding high at the winning tone of her sweet voice and 
the inviting expression of her beautiful face, as much as 
at the vast range of meaning there might be in her few 
spoken words. “Winfred, may I tell you now how 
much ’’ 

“ Someone to see Miss Lykin,” announced old George, 
as he appeared in the open doorway, with his silver salver. 

“ Lieutenant Vasey,” whispered Winfred, as she glanced 
at the card. 

“Damn Vasey!” ejaculated Don, too much annoyed 
to select his words. 

“ Show the gentleman in, George,’’ Miss Lykin said, 
without the least change or ruffle in her manner. 

“Why, how do you do. Lieutenant?” she inquired 
cordially, as the young officer entered. “ It was very 
kind of you to call, especially as Mr. Gilbar has just been 
telling me you felt rather used up after the pleasures of 
yesterday.” 

“Good-evening, Miss Lykin. How are you, Don?” 
this from Vasey, as he greeted them. 

Don bowed coolly and turned away, unable to conceal 
his annoyance. “Why need this fellow come poking 
about ? ” he thought. “ Nobody wants him. ” 

Don assumed this, looking at the matter from his own 
standpoint. When he thought of what a delightful and 
all-important evening they might have spent, uninter- 
rupted, he could have throttled his brilliant rival. So 
Don sat and sulked, while the young officer entered into 
the conversation with his usual dash and the utmost good- 
humor. 

“ 1 was rather done up after last night,” he acknowD 
edged, “but I am all right now and shall be fresh as a 


242 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

daisy for our journey to-morrow ; just thought I would 
run around a minute and see how you all were and if 
you had any orders to issue before we began our march.’’ 

And so he rattled on, lengthening his minutes into 
hours, until at last it grew so late that common decency 
compelled him to go. 

Nellie had joined them in the meanwhile and exerted 
herself to entertain Don, but with poor success. 

“ What is the matter with Mr. Don ? ” she asked 
Winfred, after they had retired to their rooms and were 
disrobing for the night ; “ I never knew him to be so 
disagreeable.” 

“ How should I know, child ? ” Winnie answered curtly. 

“Well, upon my word, Winnie, you are just as bad; 
guess I had better get to myself, then I will be in the best 
company I can find to-night.” 

“ Do not go, Nellie. Was I rude to you ? Come and 
brush out my hair and I will try to be just as lovable as 
you can wish.” 

So Winfred slipped on a loose, pale-blue gown and, 
seating herself, Nellie took down the long, shining hair. 

Do you think Don cares for me, Nellie ? ” she asked. 

“ He simply adores you, Winnie, and always has,” re- 
plied Nellie. 

“ And did I love him so, once ? ” continued Winnie. 

“ Why, what a funny question to ask me ! ” said Nellie, 
“how should I know? You do not seem to love him 
half as much now as you do that light-headed Lieuten- 
ant ; yet Don is worth a whole army of Vaseys.” 

“ But before I came here,” mused Winfred, as Nellie 
brushed and caressed the glossy tresses, “Jack says when 
« you and he found me I just worshipped Don, and was for 
wandering all over the world to find him. Of course T do 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


243 

not doubt Jack, but do you think I loved Don, or ever 
saw him, before I came here?” 

‘‘ Indeed you did, Winnie,” Nellie assured her, and then 
she told her of their meeting; how they were in the rail- 
road wreck, and of Don’s anxiety and watch the long 
night when they thought Winnie would die, and the poor 
fellow’s wild delight when he learned that his darling 
would live. 

And then she added : It is very hard on Don, loving 
you as he does and remembering how you once loved him, 
to feel that you care for someone else now.” 

“ Poor, dear Don ! ” murmured Winfred. ‘‘ If he only 
knew how ardently I love him yet ! I could not have 
been capable of the all-powerful love I bear him now at 
the time you have been telling me of. Strange I can re- 
member nothing of that time. But leave me now, please, 
dear. Come, kiss me good-night. You have plaited my 
hair so smoothly, — what a sweet little maid you make ! ” 

So Nellie left her, well satisfied with the way the day 
had ended, after all ; for she was a staunch friend of 
Don’s and would have gone any length to secure his hap- 
piness. 

Although all partings are sad, yet, apparently, it was 
a gay party that met at the depot the next morning to 
see the girls leave for the West. The debonair Vasey 
was overflowing with exuberant spirits. Winfred, of her 
own sweet will, made the opportunity to ask Don : 

‘‘Now, Mr. Gilbar, promise you will come West to see 
me ” — with the very slightest emphasis on the “ me ” — 
“very soon; and you know you promised papa you 
would come after Maud and Jack were married.” 

“ Will you promise not to ask Vasey home with you, if 
I say yes ? ” inquired Don. 


244 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LPAR. 


“ The idea,” retorted Miss Lykin, “ of my having to 
offer a premium to induce you to come ! Besides, you 
are determined, it seems, to prove to me you are selfish ; 
so you wish me to be as lonesome and miserable as I can 
be when I get home.” 

“Oh, then you will be miserable without Vasey ?” he 
said. 

“ Now, do not let us be disagreeable at parting, and if 
you will say you will come, why, I won’t invite Lieutenant 
Vasey to go further than Chicago with us.” 

“Oh, you darling!” said Don, giving her a look far 
more expressive than words. “You may be sure I will 
come to see you at the earliest possible day. I think I 
can arrange matters to come before so very long, anyhow. 
Tell Jimmie to save a big, fat turkey for Thanksgiving 
day, and I will promise to be there and help to eat it.” 

This short colloquy put Don in the seventh heaven of 
delight ; so that altogether, with two such capital fellows 
for leading spirits, there was an abundance of mirth and 
goodwill among the coterie of friends gathered to see the 
young people depart for their respective homes. Nellie 
promised to apprise Don of their safe arrival in Pleasant- 
ville, and thanked him, over and over again, for the happy 
time she had spent while a guest at his home. 

“ All aboard,” shouted the conductor, as he signaled 
to his engineer to go ahead and, almost before they knew 
it, the train was moving slowly out of the depot. The 
last they saw of the gay party was the festive Lieutenant 
executing a number of pantomime gyrations. 

“ The fool,” muttered Don, unable to entirely overcome 
his vindictive feelings, although he had gained his point 
and secured the promise that the young lieutenant should 
not be invited to go home with Miss Lykin. 


PROPER TV OP DON GJLBAR. 


245 ’ 


CHAPTER XVII. 

Another week had passed, and the time had gone 
more quickly than might have been expected to Don. 
He had been kept very busy, aiding his father in pre- 
paring for that gentleman’s departure. Flis heart was 
light, as the last few words with Winfred had filled him 
with hope. She was especially gracious toward him, and 
her giving up the idea of having young Vasey go on West 
with her was more gratifying to Don than he even cared to 
acknowledge to himself. 

The second Sunday after the girls had left — they had 
started West on Saturday — found Don, about twelve 
o’clock, alone in one of the reading-rooms of his Club, 
scanning the morning papers, as he blew out great clouds 
of smoke drawn from his kagrant Havana. 

“ Not a thing in the papers this morning,” he solilo- 
quized. ‘‘ They say the financial situation presents few 
special features this week ; the stock market has been 
dull and drooping, because speculation is almost dor- 
mant on account, mainly, of the inability to foresee the 
outcome of the pending elections, the leading operators 
in Wall Street not wishing, under the circumstances, to 
make any ventures. Bah ! when the papers don’t know 
what else to say, then they write this. Still it is just 
about the state of affairs, and I don’t see why I can’t get 
away in two or three weeks. There will not be much 
doing this W’inter, anyhow. Let’s see. By George, I 


246 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

ought to be getting a letter from Nellie. She promised 
to write at once, and if she did so, the letter should have 
reached me by yesterday or the day before. I believe I 
will send down to the post-office and have any personal 
letters there may be for me brought here ; that’s just the 
thing; wonder I hadn’t thought of it sooner; such a day 
as this is enough to give one the blues.” 

It was storming fiercely outside, a drizzling rain- that 
had started early in the morning having turned into 
sleet and snow, accompanied by a chilling Northeast 
gale. 

Don, lowering his graceful limbs from the table upon 
which he had been resting them, stepped to the call box 
and rang for a messenger boy. “ Hope I do get a letter 
from Nellie,” he continued. ‘‘ Blamed if I don’t get 
kind of lonesome when I have time to think of it. Old 
Jack has gone and taken Maud with him, and 1 suppose 
it’s because I miss them so, or something else. Well, 
we will soon see if there are any letters for me.” 

Here, Johnnie,” this to the messenger boy who stood 
waiting in response to the call^ the water dripping from 
his rubber coat which protected him from the inclement 
weather. 

‘‘You skip down to the post-office and hand this note 
into window D ; here is a dollar for you, and if you 
bring me any letters, I will make it as much more.” 

“Can’t bring you no letters. Mister, if the clerk don’t 
gimme none,” answered the little urchin, as he seized the 
tendered dollar and scampered along the hallway. 

In due time the lad returned, not empty-handed, but 
bringing a dozen or more letters for Don. Taking them 
eagerly from the boy, young Gilbar ran them over 
hastily. 


PROPERTY OF DOiY GILBAR. 


247 


‘‘ Here is one from DeAubray ; he is worrying me to 
death to try some of his imported wines so that he can use 
my name as an advertisement. I am willing enough to 
drink his wine, but do not see the advisability of allowing 
him to make money out of my name ; anyhow that will 
keep until to-morrow,^’ stuffing the letter into his pocket. 

This one is from Konway, ‘ Call at your convenience, 
and have your coat fitted ; ’ that’s what it says, I know, 
without opening it. Well, Mr. Konway, DeAubray’s letter 
might get. a little lonesome, so I will send yours to keep 
it company.” 

Don scanned several of the letters hastily, until he 
came to a square and very unbusinesslike looking envelope. 
“ Ah, ha ! Something told me I would get a letter from 
Nellie ; yes, sure enough, this is from her ; here is the 
postmark, Pleasantville ; that’s it. Well, we will just light 
a fresh cigar and get over here in the corner by our- 
selves and see what Nellie has to say.” 

The balance of Don’s mail he did not even look at, but 
rammed all the letters together in his pocket, except the 
one from Iowa ; this one he tore open leisurely and, seat- 
ing himself in an easy-chair, began reading : 

“Dear Mr. Don: — We had a lovely journey ho7?ie aiid foimd 
fhn waiting for us at the depot. He made a big fuss over Wi/mie^ 
telling her what a stunner she is, in his ext7'avagant 77ia7tner. He 
see77ied very glad to see 77ie, too, a7id I ca7ne ho77ie with the77i a7ul a7n 
still at the Squire's. Papa will be dow7i for 7ne some thne to-day a7id T 
0771 so i77ipatie7it to see hwi that I ca7i hardly wait. Lieutena7tt Vasey 
ca77ie clear on ho7ne luith us, you know." 

‘‘The devil, what is that?” ejaculated Don. “Yes, 
that is what Nellie says ; here it is, plain enough.” 

“ Lieute7iant Vasey ca/7ie clear 07t ho77ie with 7is, yo7t k7t07ci, a7td Wi7i7iie 
and he have gone for a horseback ride a7id this gives 7ne the ti77ie to 


2 43 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAJ^. 

ivrite youy as pro7nised. / don't think the Squire was very well pleased 
at Lieutenant Vasefs coming luith us ; but of course he is so delighted 
o7>er having Winnie home that he doesn't say anything against her com- 
pany. It 7 nay be that he ca7t7tot bear the idea of givi7tg Win7iie up to 
a7tyo7ie., just yet ” 

And so the letter went on, relating the lots of fun” 
they had en route to Pleasantville ; and it seemed to Don 
about every other word was Vasey. 

‘‘ Well, if this isn’t a great way of doing ! ” said Don, 
after he had finished the letter. “Is Winfred a flirt? 
Was she deceiving me with her false promises to not let 
Vasey go home with her? I don’t go one step towards 
Pleasantville, that is sure. I have put up with her im- 
perious ways long enough ; but I must say, come to think 
of it, it is not very complimentary to me that she loved 
me so when she was not altogether in her right mind and 
now, as soon as she regains her reason, she uses me as a 
plaything. 

“ All right ; I hope she and Vasey will be happy.” 

Which, Don being human, was just exactly what he 
didn’t hope. 

Then he wrote a few lines to Nellie, thanking her for 
her letter and congratulating her on their safe trip, saying 
that he hoped she would return to New York some time 
as he would then see her again ; otherwise, he might not 
have that pleasure, for he never expected to go West, 
as the only trip he ever made in that direction had proved 
thoroughly unsatisfactory. 

Having performed this duty, Don sauntered into some 
of the other rooms and entered into a spirited discussion 
as to the advisability and practicability of resuming specie 
payment, a question that was being agitated at that 
time. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


249 

All during the conversation and through the whole day 
Don was resolving in his mind to follow out his early 
instincts and never again have anything to do with a 
woman. 

“ Blast that girl ! ” he muttered, between his teeth, as he 
drove home late Sunday night. “ My mind must have been 
weakened for the last year, no doubt on account of the 
rough handling I had that night out in Iowa. Well, I am 
glad I have come to my senses at last and th^t I can ‘‘ with 
so much calmness contemplate her marrying that blamed 
fool.^’ 

After he reached home and had thrown off his coat, 
he continued to congratulate himself in much the same 
strain. 

What a satisfaction it is to have the house cleared of 
a lot of silly girls ! one can have a good deal better time 
with the fellows. Why, I have hardly been in the Gym- 
nasium since I came back to the city. Let me see, is it 
possible I only rowed twice this Summer ; one afternoon 
to try my wind and then, the next day, when 1 went in 
against Tom Roberts ? He came very nearly pulling in 
ahead that day, too; I had him beaten, safe enough, 
when I seemed to go to sleep. My mind drifted away 
and I got to thinking of Jack’s sister, which must have 
been very weakening, and the first thing I knew, Tom was 
forging ahead. The boys guyed me a good deal, that 
evening ; said I was getting old and stout. I will show 
them, by another season, that I am a better man than 
ever.” 

Don kept up this running fire of comment until he retired 
and sank into a restless sleep. 

The next morning he was at the office bright and early 
^nd, calling the chief clerk into his private room, he had 


250 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


a long conversation with him, giving instructions how to 
make a few safe investments that would require no atten- 
tion for some time to come. 

After he had gone over the business in general and 
dismissed the confidential clerk, he lit a cigar and again 
permitted his thoughts to drift into their natural channel. 

‘‘ No, sir; I have had enough of girls ; one experience 
is enough for me ; but I think Fll take a trip out to old 
Squire Lykin’« and see if I can’t find some good shoot- 
ing this time. I like the old Squire and that Jim is a 
fine boy, too. Til be situated so I can really enjoy the 
shooting ; my head will be clear, and it is only what I 
intended to do a year ago. Yes, that will be just the 
thing. Father is at the office every day and will be home 
for a week yet, so that he can attend- to any little details 
that may come up ; there is nothing to do here, any- 
how. 

“ Let me see, if I stir myself,! can make the 5.50 Limited 
this evening, and that’s just what I’ll do. I’ll go home 
and pack my gun and traps and start to-night. Fll take 
them by surprise, out there. Gad ! I see myself now 
walking in and telling the old Squire I have come for a 
couple of weeks’ shooting. 

“ Of course, Miss Lykin will think that her sweet smiles 
have tempered the magnet that drew me West ; but it 
won’t take long to disabuse her mind on that point; and 
Vasey and the beautiful Miss Lykin may gallivant about 
over the country for all I care ; it is about all that Vasey 
is fit for, anyhow ; I pity the country if it has to depend 
on such soldiers as he.” 

Up to two weeks ago Don had joined and, in fact, led, 
the host of Lieutenant Vasey’s acquaintances in pro- 
claiming him to be one of the bravest and best young 


PROPERTY OP POM GILBAR, 25 1 

officers in the army ; but, of course, we are all liable to 
change our minds. 

Suiting the action to the word, Don rushed off home 
and told his father he was going away for a month, with- 
out any further explanation as to where or why he was 
going, only stating that he had left his future address at 
the office in case he should be needed. He hastily packed 
such articles as he would need and was ready two hours 
before the time of starting. 

****.** 

The sun was throwing its bright rays across the dining- 
room, one November morning, as the Lykin family as- 
sembled for breakfast. Outside, the atmosphere was sharp 
and bracing while the white frost covered the meadows 
far and near. The old Squire stood in the spacious bow 
window, looking out upon his vast acres with every evi- 
dence of satisfaction, while Winfred stood by his side, 
entertaining him with the recital of some amusing incident 
that had happened to her while riding the previous day. 

The good old mother had seated herself at the table, 
almost entirely lost to view behind the smoking coffee urn. 
Nellie Miller was also at the table, as she had not yet gone 
home ; her father was rubbing his hands, as he had just 
come in from the frosty air. 

“ Tolerable sharp out, this mornin’, Mrs. Lykin,’’ Miller 
said, “ but it’s going to be a fine day, and Nellie and I will 
have a fine drive home.” 

“Yes, I guess it is pretty cool out,” replied Mrs. 
Lykin, and then, impatiently : “ Do come, Hugh, sit down 
to your breakfast ; everything is getting cold. Come, 
Winnie, what are you and your father talking about, any- 
how.?” 


252 PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 

“ But, mother,” asked Winfred, ‘‘ oughtn’t we to wait 
a few minutes for Lieutenant Vasey ! ” 

“ Indeed, we shan’t wait a second. Let my breakfast 
get all cold waiting for that lazy beau of yours ^ Me 
knows our time for breakfast and if he was any gentleman 
he would be here at the proper hour.” 

“ 1 just caught something about the proper hour,” said 
the young gentleman referred to, as he came hastily into 
the room. “ I suppose, Mrs. Lykin, you were saying 
something about this being the proper hour for eating 
breakfast and not for sleeping. You see, we soldiers are 
not accustomed to regular hours ; we sleep when we can, 
and eat when we feel like it, provided, of course, we have 
anything to eat. 

‘‘ 1 know I impose on your abundant good nature, and it 
will serve me right if you tell me some morning I must go 
without my breakfast ; but you are too good to us boys.” 

This soothed Mrs. Lykin’s ruffled equanimity. 

“Where is Jim ?” asked Nellie, as they all seated them- 
selves at the table. 

“There you go, Nellie. You and Jimmie quarrel and 
contend with each other the whole time you are together, 
yet you are the first one to miss him and can’t seem to 
bear to have him out of your sight.” This from Winfred. 

“Why, Winnie, what a story! \\’e never quarrel. 
Sometimes we try to explain things to each other, and it 
is so hard to make Jim understand ; besides, I don’t care 
where he is ; I simply inquired, just as you did a little 
while ago for Lieutenant Vasey.” 

This was returning Winfred’s fire in good order, but 
the shot must have gone wide of its mark, for Winfred 
only laughed as she turned to Vasey and opened the con- 
versation with him by saying : 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


253 

“ See how I look after your interests when you are not 
here/^ 

“ Jim rode over to town for the mail and one or two little 
things I needed,” Mother Lykin replied to Nellie’s ques- 
tion ; “ but it is time he was back by now ; ” and, almost 
as she uttered the last word, Jimmie came in and joined 
them at the breakfast-table. 

Pretty heavy frost this morning. Squire,” Jim began. 
“ Well, that’s what you want ; I suppose you will be shuck- 
ing your corn in a few days.” 

Where are your manners, Mr. Lykin } ” asked Nellie, 
determined to be noticed. “ It seems to me a gentleman 
would at least say good-morning to ladies at the table, 
before entering into a personal conversation, especially 
about business.” 

“ Oh, pshaw ! Nellie ; mother was busy, and I couldn’t 
interrupt Winnie, as you see she is talking, and of course 
we men don’t always notice little girls.” 

‘M)id you get me a letter ?” asked Nellie, biting her 
lips with impatience. 

“ That’s so. By George ! I believe there is a letter 
for you ; I left the mail all out in my coat, in the hall.” 

“ Oh, did you get me a letter ? Who is it from ^ ” 

Well, that is a great question to ask, I must say. 
You are about as dumb as they generally make them. 
Now, how should I know who your letter is from ? ” 

Didn’t you notice the postmark .J* and is it from a lady 
or gentleman ? Did it seem to be a big, thick letter ? 
When did it come, Jim ? ” 

Oh, please stop bothering me ; I’ll go get you your 
letter right now, so I can eat my breakfast in peace.” 

This Jim did, and, upon handing the letter to Nellie 
and her eye lighting on the little round stamp with the 


254 


PROPERTY OF DON GTLBAR. 


words “ New York in the corner, she said, below her 
voice, and speaking to herself : 

‘‘ It’s from Don.” 

It must have been by intuition that Winfred caught 
the name, as the words were spoken too low to be heard 
across the table. In the middle of a sentence she paused 
in her talk with young Vasey and, try as she would during 
the remainder of the meal, she was unable to carry on a 
connected conversation. 

What was in that letter ? Was Don well ? When was 
he coming } Did he speak of her and of being lonely 
without her ? Why could not she have a letter from Don ? 

These and like thoughts chased each other through 
her mind, and it was with a great sense of relief that she 
finally arose from the table and was permitted to join 
Nellie, while they retreated to Nellie’s room, where she 
could hear the substance of what Don had written. 

Was your letter from anyone I know ? ” asked Win- 
fred, as soon as they had seated themselves at the win- 
dow. 

“ As if you didn’t know 1 Of course, it’s from Don, 
and a miserable letter it is. Here, read for yourself, 
Winnie,” and Nellie took the crumpled epistle from her 
pocket and handed it to her. 

There was perfect silence for the little time it took 
Winnie to read the short note ; then she said : 

“ What in the world did you write him, Nellie ? He 
must have heard something that has put him out.” 

“ Why, I wrote him the nicest kind of a letter ; told 
him we got home all right, had lots of fun and a good 
time in general, coming through; and, I don’t know, not 
much else ; said you and that Vasey were enjoying your- 
selves. That’s all, and I’m sure ” 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


255 


‘‘ Oh, you wrote him that, did you ? ” interrupted 
Winfred. “That explains it all. You had no business 
saying a word about Lieutenant Vasey ; you know as well 
as 1 do that I never asked him to come home with us ; 
that I did all I could, with common decency, to prevent 
his coming, yet he stuck right along. 1 could have ex- 
plained all this to Don when he came, but now you have 
spoiled it all.’’ 

“ Well, upon my word, if that isn’t mean of you,” re- 
torted Nellie, “to talk so to me. I have been your friend 
from first to last, and now to have you turn on me for 
just telling Don you were out riding with the lieutenant ; 
but I am glad I wrote it, for he ought to know just how 
outrageously you are flirting with Vasey — that is, if it is 
nothing more serious than a flirtation.” 

“Nellie Miller, how dare you.^^” cried Winfred, stamp- 
ing her foot. “ But excuse me, Nellie ; you are too young 
and silly for me to be provoked at you ; if you will excuse 
me, I will leave you.” 

And Miss Lykin walked majestically out of the room, 
it is true, but her eyes were filled with unshed tears and, 
as soon as she was alone, she gave way to what was, in 
all probability, the first good cry of her life. 

What would Don think, after her promising she would 
not invite Vasey home with her, and then for Nellie to 
write that he was there and that she was enjoying his 
visit ? How false she would seem to Don ; and he was 
so anxious that the lieutenant should not come ! And 
now, what was to be done ; should she write and tell Don 
just how it all came about? No, that would not do; per- 
haps he really did not care and only wanted some excuse 
for not coming ; but then again, what if he meant just 
what he said and she should never see him again. 


256 PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 

A vigorous knocking at her door broke off Winfred’s 
tangled thoughts. 

Are you in there, Winnie 'i What you got your door 
locked for ? Come, open it ; I want you. You can’t 
guess who is downstairs ? ” Jim rattled this off in his 
usual style, as Winfred let him in. 

‘‘ What is this ? crying, and all by yourself That 
don’t pay; a girl always wants to wait until someone can 
see her cry ; there is nothing in going off by yourself to cry. 

‘‘ But this sort of business must be stopped, anyhow, 
has anyone been abusing you ’cause if they have, just 
let me know and I will soon settle them. But guess 
who’s come ? You couldn’t guess, if you lived to be a 
thousand years old.” 

“ Not much use to try, then, Jimmie,” said Winnie, 
smiling, for Jim’s hearty ways were always infectious and 
no one could be low-spirited in his company. 

“ Well, just give a guess, anyhow, just for fun,” he 
urged. 

I can’t ; tell me, Jim, who it is.” 

“ Well, it’s Don Gilbar.” 

‘‘Who?” cried Winnie, throwing her arms about Jim 
and giving him a big hug. “ You dear, darling boy, are 
you only teasing me ? ” 

“ I said Don was downstairs, not that 1 was Don,” 
protested Jim, as he struggled to free himself from his 
sister’s embrace. 

Why is it boys never care for their own sisters’ 
caresses ? 

“ Don’t try any of your bear antics on me ; but, by 
George ! I am onto you now, Winnie ; I always thought 
it was the ‘ Regular ! ’ Oh ! oh ! so it’s Don that gets 
you so excited. Well, Winnie, go in and corral him, if 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


257 

you can ; he is the best catch in the woods and Vasey is 
a ‘ scrub ’ beside Don.” 

“ But, Jimmie, it is not possible that Mr. Gilbar is here ; 
for as I told you, he was not expecting to come for a 
couple of weeks or so ; besides, he wrote Nellie, in the 
letter she received this morning, that he might not come 
for some time. I believe you are only playing a joke on 
me, after all, you rascal.” 

“ Not a bit of it,” Jim assured her. ‘‘ Don is down- 
stairs, safe enough, this very minute ; come on down and 
see him. We were all struck dumb, ourselves, when he 
came walking in on us. Go on down, Winnie, while I 
hunt Nell up.” 

“ Did Mr. Gilbar ask for me } ” 

“ No, I don’t know as he did ; he had no time to ask 
for anybody as we all surrounded him, and gave him 
such a hearty welcome ; but that is nothing. Thunder ! 
you don’t have to wait to be asked out here, as you do in 
the city. Just go down and tell him you are glad to see 
him.” 

Well, go on and find Nellie, Jim,” was all she said, 
as Jim started out to surprise Nellie no less than the rest 
had been. 

Miss xMiller hardly waited for Jim to have the words 
out of his mouth that Don had come, before she ran un- 
ceremoniously down the broad stairs to greet the unex- 
pected arrival. 

“ Well, this is a surprise ! ” she cried, as Don shook 
hands with her. “ You must change your mind as you 
do your coat, Mr. Don. Why, I have hardly finished 
reading your letter, in which you say you are never com- 
ing to Iowa, before I find you standing right here before 
me.” 


17 


258 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ I suppose I am growing dyspeptic, or something,” 
laughed . Don. “ When I wrote you that letter I meant 
just what it contains ; but I got to thinking, the next day, 
that I would enjoy a good, old-fashioned hunt, and not 
having an over-abundant supply of friends in the game 
districts, I thought my best opportunity would be to come 
and impose on our good friend, Lykin, here.” 

“ As if I didn’t owe Gilbar a month’s entertainment,” 
chimed in the Squire ; “ he’s just here in good time. 
Game is plenty and I will take the field with him, myself; 
and if we don’t bag our share, it will be something 
strange.” 

“ Come along home with us,” was Mr. Miller’s hearty 
invitation. “You will find any quantity of prairie chick- 
ens up our way and I think we are in your debt for kind- 
ness shown to Nellie, here, more than anyone else. We 
are going to start home right away and can stop in town 
and get your traps ; then the Squire can come on up to 
Stephen’s and we will all put in a week’s shooting.” 

Up to this time not a word had been said about Win- 
fred, nor had she put in an appearance. Lieutenant 
Vasey was also conspicuous by his absence. “ They are 
off riding together somewhere,” was Don’s mental de- 
cision in regard to the two who were uppermost in his 
mind. 

Of course Don had come West for the sole purpose of 
enjoying the shooting, and that being the case, why not go 
along up with Mr. Miller as undoubtedly the sport would 
be just as good there as anywhere Yet, for some reason, 
Don waited and, if the truth were known, was earnestly 
hoping that the Squire would urge some objection to his 
leaving. 

It is very doubtful if the Squire would have done this 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


259 


had not Nellie, with a woman’s quick intuition, decided 
that there was something for Don to do of vastly more 
importance than killing the innocent prairie fowls ; and, 
now that he had come so many miles in order that he 
might be near Winfred, which she knew so well was his 
prime object in coming, it would never do to take him 
where he might not see her. So she said : 

‘‘ Now, papa, let us wait awhile. Mr. Gilbar is tired 
from his journey and should rest a few days ; besides, it 
has been so long since I have seen you and mamma that 
I want to enjoy you alone for a few days and not be com- 
pelled to entertain company.” 

This pleased them all. Old Miller was flattered by his 
daughter’s evident tender affection, Don gave her a mute 
look of deepest gratitude ; while the Squire, taking the 
cue from Nellie, insisted that Don should stay with them 
for a while, anyhow. 

Half an hour later Winfred came out into the yard to 
•bid the Millers good-bye, as they were starting for home, 
and there she met Don. 

“ Why, how do you do, Mr. Gilbar ? You have taken 
us a little by surprise ; but you are none the less welcome 
for coming sooner than you promised.” She greeted him 
thus, cordially, without a tremor in her voice. 

“ Ah, good-morning,” said Don, with a Chesterfield 
bow. “Yes, I found I could get away; so I thought I 
would take a run out here, for the shooting, before the game 
became too shy, which it will later on. I trust you are well, 
and your friend, Lieutenant Vasey, is he not with you ?” 

Don spoke with perfect self-possession, and succeeded 
fairly well in concealing the thrill of ecstasy that passed 
over him as he barely touched her tapering fingers. 

“Oh, Lieutenant Vasey! I believe he has gone to 


26 o 


PROPERTY OF DON GTLBAR. 


examine a horse that he wishes to purchase; but it is time 
he returned, and he will be very much pleased to find you 
here/’ 

“That is possible,” muttered Don, “as I shall not in- 
terfere with any of his plans or amusements.” 

There was no time to continue this conversation. In 
a short time the Millers started for home, and the old 
Squire monopolized Don, taking him over the place and 
showing him the stock. 

After this day the gentlemen had some good hunting 
for a week. Don was a crack shot and could hold his 
own with the huntsmen, even though they were on their 
“ native heath.” 

Winfred, exasperated at his studied indifference towards 
her, was especially gracious to Lieutenant Vasey. While 
this young officer really was not in a position to do him- 
self justice, he was madly in love with Winfred and, so 
far as she would permit, followed at her heels, like a 
shadow. A dozen times a day it was upon his lips to* 
declare his love ; but she, divining each time the approach- 
ing crisis, froze the words upon his lips with her stately 
dignity ; but, at other times, she was so gracious that it 
kept the poor fellow in a mild form of delirium. 

Some days he started, with the others, to the fields ; 
but he could not remain away long, in his present state of 
mind, so that invariably he would return long before the day 
was over. This naturally lowered him in the estimation 
of the others, whereas, under ordinary circumstances, he 
would have competed with the best of them for sportsman’s 
honors, and enjoyed the rivalry, too. 

He had applied for and received a slight extension of 
his furlough ; but, as there were prospects of trouble with 
the Indians, he one day received orders to report for duty 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


261 


not later than a week hence ; so it was arranged that 
Winfred should give a ball on the night before he must 
leave. 

The Squire was in for this, heart and soul ; he had in- 
tended, as soon as Winfred came home, that she should 
have a ‘‘big party,*’ as he expressed it, and he didn’t care 
how soon ; he also insisted that it should be as fine an 
affair as could be gotten up, regardless of expense. 

So the news went abroad that there was going to be a 
big ball at Squire Lykin’s, the first that had ever been 
given under the Squire’s roof. 


. 1 


262 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

“ The girls will be terribly cut up if you don’t go, Don,’' 
said Jim to young Gilbar the day before the ball ; “ they 
are counting on you, I am sure ; then, beside^, the Squire 
would feel almost insulted if you kept out of the way. 
What is the matter with you, anyhow, Don ? Don't you 
like girls or being around where they are ? ” 

‘‘ Not much, Jim ; they are a deceitful, heartless lot and 
the less you have to do with them, the better for you. 
However, so far as I am concerned, honors are about 
even between us, for the ladies think I am a worthless 
bear of a fellow.” 

‘‘That is just where you are off, Don ; Td part with 
Ben, the best colt in the State, if Nellie cared as much 
for my whole body as she does for your little finger ; but 
certainly I wouldn’t give in to her, or let her know it. 
Then there’s Winnie, of course I’m not saying anything, 
but if you would only go in and run that soldier out, you 
would confer a lasting favor on the whole family. And 
you could do it easy, Don, for I know a thing or two ; 
but I’m not saying anything.” 

“ You will say a great deal too much if let alone,” 
Don said, with a laugh ; “ but you don’t know what you 
are talking about. I will see about putting in an appear- 
ance to-morrow night, though, to be sure, if the Squire is 
counting on me, I will be right there ; you know I stick 
to the Squire, no matter what the game is.” 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. * 263 

“ Well, the Squire is counting on you, because I heard 
him say so ; and besides, he would think the whole affair 
a failure if you were not on hand ; and then, too, it would 
look like you went away on purpose.” 

Oh, I guess you will see me around part of the time, 
anyhow,” Don finally assented, as he started across the 
fields with his gun and dogs. 

Don had made a brave struggle, ever since his arrival, 
to escape any private interview with Winfred ; he had 
hunted and shot with a calm desperation. He was not 
aware, himself, how deeply he loved the girl, but the hot 
fires of love were burning fiercely in his breast, covered 
up though they were with his feigned indifference to her 
actions. Each day, however, increased the danger of the 
flames bursting through the thin crust and spending their 
force on the impenetrable walls of Winnie’s heart ; or, 
should they find an entrance open susceptible of their 
invasion and something therein to feed upon, they would 
glow and break into a light that would illuminate the 
whole surroundings of their two lives. 

Winfred would have at any time been only too glad to 
recount to Don how Lieutenant Vasey happened to be 
a guest at her home. She was anxious and sought for 
opportunities to set herself right with young Gilbar on 
this one point ; for she felt that he believed she had wil- 
fully deceived him in her promise not to ask Vasey home 
with her. On this point, however, matters seemed to be 
going from bad to worse. Don treated her with simple 
courtesy, passing the time of day with her as they met, but 
permitting nothing more; while Lieutenant Vasey made 
open love to her in every way save putting it in words. 

Up to this time, by exercising a great deal of tact and 
judgment, she had kept the poor fellow from making any 


264 PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 

declaration and it was her greatest hope that he would 
go away without speaking the words that her woman’s 
intuition told her were so often trembling on his lips. In 
a way she liked him very much and for this reason she 
wished to save him, if possible, the mortification that 
would be added to his disappointment should she be forced 
to give him the only answer that she could to his plead- 
ings for her love. 

But there remained only another day and night and 
then Vasey would be gone and, in the excitement of his 
soldier life, he would soon forget her, or at least only 
remember her as affording him a passing pleasure. 

The preparations for the ball, although quite extensive 
for the time and place, did not require so long a period 
for completion as they would have done in a large city ; 
there were no days and weeks of patient toil and long- 
suffering on the part of the belles who would be present 
in selecting dresses, having them fitted and draped, match- 
ing trimmings and all the fatiguing mental and physical 
exertion incident to a fashionable society girl’s robing her- 
self more magnificently than her rival. 

It only required a few days for Mother Lykin, with the 
efficient aid of her most intimate neighbors, to prepare 
the wholesome viands that would appease the hunger of 
the guests, many of whose appetites would be sharpened 
by their long drive through the frosty air. 

Nellie Miller came down a couple of days before, to 
aid in decorating the rooms and enjoy the additional 
pleasure of being on the ground and anticipating the con- 
quests that she would make among the farmer lads. If 
anyone had had time to notice, it would have been laugh- 
able to note the thousand and one excuses that Jim made 
to get in the house and have a tilt with Nellie. 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 265 

After Don left him, he busied himself for an hour or 
so with some work that could not be slighted. As soon 
as it was done, however, he hunted up the girls. 

‘‘Seen anything of Vasey.^^’ he asked, as soon as he 
came in sight of them, for the double reason that he must 
say something and because he hoped the question would 
direct their attention from himself, and he would thus 
escape their asking him what he wanted. As a matter 
of fact, he did not want anything, and it was equally true 
that where Vasey was did not interest him in the least. 

“ Oh, he is packing his goods and chattels,’’ answered 
Nellie, “ preparatory to his departure ; you know he leaves 
early day after to-morrow morning and he will have no 
time to pack after the ball. 

“ Jim, for a wonder, we want you ; this is one time your 
company is very acceptable. Winnie and I want to do 
something and we can’t by ourselves. Come, will you 
help us ? and I will promise to dance the most with you 
to-morrow night.” 

“ Oh, botheration, you are up to some of your tricks 
again,” said Jim, suspiciously ; “ I can see it in your eyes ; 
you want to have all the fun and fix it so I will get all the 
blame.” 

“ No we don’t, do we, Winnie } It is just a little pas- 
time.” 

“That is all,” coincided Winnie, “and we wouldn’t 
allow anyone to harm you, anyhow, poor little fellow.” 

“ Come on,” continued Nellie, taking him by the arm, 
“Winnie wants you to get Don’s repeating rifle.” 

“Get Don’s rifle cried Jim, “what does she want to 
do ? — shoot herself because Vasey is going ? ” 

“ Yes, that’s it ; what a smart boy you are, Jim,” said 
Winnie. 


266 


PROPERTY OP DON GILBAR. 


“ No, but we are in earnest, Jim,” Nellie assured him ; 
“ we want to shoot it ; Papa’s and your father’s rifles are 
so long and heavy, while Don’s is such a beautiful gun. 
Come, Jim, let’s go; Don won’t care, although he is so 
gruff himself, of late ; but we wouldn’t ask him.” 

“Well, I don’t care, if you want to. Don told me to use 
his things whenever I wanted to, so I am not afraid of 
his not liking it.” 

So they repaired to Don’s room and were quickly in- 
terested in looking over his hunting paraphernalia. There 
were several guns, but the rifle was his pride ; everything 
about it shone like silver. Then there were beautifully 
wrought game-bags, his cartridge belt, blank cartridges, 
with appurtenances for filling the same, little cans of shot 
and powder. And then, his little tool chest was of 
especial interest to the curious girls. It was filled with 
chisels and screwdrivers, punches, wrenches, copper wires 
and screws and numerous other articles, for Don, know- 
ing that he .would not find a gunsmith near at hand, pre- 
pared himself for any emergency. Jim felt his import- 
ance, explaining the use of one thing and then another. 

“ But what is this for?” asked Winfred. 

“ Let me see it,” said Jim, taking the instrument and 
examining it. “ Oh, that is to test powder ; here, let me 
show you ; hold out your hand a minute,” and, spreading 
out a little powder mixed with acid in Winnie’s palm, 
which she extended unsuspiciously, he pressed the die 
firmly down. 

“ Don’t, that hurts,” cried Winfred, “ I don’t see what 
that has to do with the powder.” 

“ Don’t you,” said Jim, laughing heartily. “ Well, you 
see, that powder is guaranteed to stand a certain pressure 
without exploding, and as it didn’t explode, it is good 


PROPERTY OF DON GJLBAR. 267 

powder. But come on, if you want to shoot some, let’s 
get at it before Don comes back.” 

“ Well, we are ready,” said Nellie. 

None of them noticed, not even Winfred herself until 
later in the day, the result of Jim’s practical elucidation 
of the use of one of Don’s tools. Winnie simply brushed 
the powder loosely from her hand and followed them out 
into the yard. 

When Don returned at twelve o’clock, he found them 
still amusing themselv^es with his rifle. As he drew near, 
Nellie, who was shooting, hit the little card which was 
stuck in the end of a twig a little distance off, fair and 
square. 

“ Bravo,” he cried, “ you didn’t shut your eyes just 
befoue you pulled the trigger that time, did you, Nellie ” 

“ I never do,” she retorted. “ But you have caught us 
in mischief, haven’t you, Mr. Don ^ Are you cross at us 
for taking your rifle ? ” 

“ No, indeed,” he replied with a pleasant smile; “you 
are welcome to anything I have that will afford you 
amusement, and, as I am so much less entertaining, per- 
sonally, than some others,” (this with a swift glance at 
Winfred), “ I am Only thankful that I possess something 
that can furnish you ladies a pastime.” 

“ Now, Mr. Gilbar, that is neither kind nor just,” 
Winfred interposed. “ No one can be more entertain- 
ing than you ; but I fear the trouble is that we are bores 
to you, judging by the way you so studiously keep out of 
our sight. 

“ But we do not intend to let you escape us to-morrow 
night, so prepare to make a martyr of yourself. Papa has 
been so kind in going to all this trouble for me that I 
hope I can tell him after it is all overthat it has been the 


2 68 PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR, 

happiest time of my life. There will be so few good 
dancers, and you know how hard it will be to attempt to 
waltz with some who will be here. Jim and Nellie have 
arranged, between shots, to monopolize each other’s com- 
pany at the ball, so you must come to my rescue.” 

All this was very pleasing to Don, coming from the one 
he loved so earnestly. This was really more than they 
had said to each other since Don’s arrival, and there was 
no disguising the fact that he was flattered by her manner 
and prettily spoken words*. 

“ And what about our young officer ? I should have 
supposed that before this time you and he had also ar- 
ranged to monopolize each other,” Don replied, unable 
to keep the pique out of his voice. “ Where is Vasey, 
anyhow ? It is something unusual to find you without 
your shadow } ” 

“ Lieutenant Vasey is arranging for his departure. I 
certainly appreciate his kindness and attention since we 
came home. Dear me ! what should I have done but for 
him ? Yet he will go in a few hours now and forget all 
about me. No danger of his ever startling me almost to 
death by his coming so unexpectedly to see me ; never 
fear but that he will be able to keep away from me longer 
than two or three days ; but when he does come, you will 
not find his temper gaining such mastery over him that 
he will hardly speak a civil word to me.” 

While they were talking, they had strolled up the path 
into the orchard. The most of the fruit had been gath- 
ered, and the sharp frosts of the last few nights, pinching 
the leaves from the tender twigs, caused them to fall in 
great heaps and piles in every direction. It was atypical 
Autumn day; the yellow sun glowed through the smoky 
atmosphere ; big flies hummed and buzzed through the 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 269 

air, as though defying the near approach of their death ; 
the bees floated lazily about, heavy-laden and exhausted 
with their persistent toil in laying in stores for the fast 
approaching Winter. There is a feeling of luxuriant in- 
dolence that comes over one on such a day and, as Win- 
fred seated herself on a mossy stump and Don paused 
by her side, they certainly looked very comfortable ; but 
Don’s mind was far from being at ease. 

‘‘ How very exasperating you are, Winfred.” 

- Oh, am I ? ” 

It seems unnatural for you to be such a vain, heart- 
less coquette.” 

‘‘ You think me all that, do you } ” 

‘‘ How can I think you other than what you are ? ’* 

“ You have been very fortunate in escaping my wiles 
until now.” 

“ Oh, I don’t know as you deliberately practice deceit, 
or plan to allure anyone.” 

“ Then you give me credit for something.” 

“ But how could you be other than vain, after all the 
court that was paid you in New York, drawing in with 
every breath the uttered words telling you how surpass- 
ingly handsome you are ; drinking in with your eyes the 
admiring glances of every one who might be fortunate 
enough to come within the halo of your dazzling beauty. 
I acknowledge it is only natural that you should be cruel 
and heartless and blind to the torture you inflict.” 

But, if all this is true, why did you rush into danger.? 
why did you come in such hot haste all the way from the 
city here to suffer such agony ? ” 

Because 1 love you ; because my life is aimless, it is 
nothing without you. From morning until night, and 
from night until morning 1 think of you. It was impos- 


270 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


sible for me to stay away from you, darling. Can you not 
give me some little encouragement 1 ” 

“ Encouragement of what ? ’’ 

‘‘ That you will love me ; that you will some day be 
my own, my wife.’’ 

“ You poor, darling old Don, what a strange selection 
you, who have the world to choose from, have made for 
a wife ! — an irritating, vain, heartless, deceitful, cruel, 
worthless coquette. Are you only jesting, Don, or are you 
really in earnest ? ” 

“ I could not possibly be more in earnest,” he cried 
eagerly. I mean every word I have said — that is — you 
don’t understand me.” 

“ Oh, yes, I do ; I have understood you all along and, 
if you are not afraid you will be disappointed, for I do 
not see how I can be everything that the girl you have 
just told me you love is ; if you will promise not to scold 
me if I happen to do something good once in a while I, 
will be your wife whenever you will it.” 

There was a hurried caress, and unspeakable love 
sparkled through their eyes, as Jim and Nellie were heard 
coming through the leaves, contending, as usual, over 
some minor matter that neither really cared a rap about. 

‘‘ See that you clean that gun up, Jim,” said Don, with 
commendable forethought and control over his agitated 
feelings. 

“ Oh yes, I will clean it up so that you would never 
know it had been used. We thought you were half 
through dinner by now ; come on, you’d better hurry up, 
or mother will be raving.” 

After dinner, Winfred and Don made another opportu- 
nity to be alone for nn hour, during which time Winnie 
made a full and satisfactory e.vplanation to Don as to how 


PROPERTY OF DON G/LBAR. 


271 


Lieutenant Vasey insisted on coining home with them. 
She did not deny that Vasey was very good company and 
very entertaining, but she could not have the least particle 
of love for him. Then Don told her of the beautiful 
vision that was presented to his eyes when he awoke to 
consciousness after he knew not how long a struggle 
with the fever, not quite a year ago. He recited many 
incidents that occurred during his sojourn with the 
then strange girl, — incidents that he so loved to dwell 
upon. 

Well, Don,’’ she said at last, “ you think I made you so 
happy then; I will try to make you far more so from 
now on. Let us make a thorough search for this cave, I 
should so love to see it ; and perhaps the past will come 
back to me there. But I must go now, as there are many 
things to attend to before to-morrow night.” 

The following day was quite blustering, the air was filled 
with snow, until by night the ground was covered with 
the spotless flakes. The uncertain weather, however, did 
not deter a majority of the guests who were invited from 
coming, each one bent on having a jolly good time. 

By ten o’ clock the festivities were at their height. 
Miss Lykin had opened the ball with Mr. Gilbar, much 
to Lieutenant Vasey ’s chagrin and the delight of all the 
others. Every one by this time seemed well started. 
Winfred and Don had stolen into the green-house, but 
the night was too youngs yet for them to be left long un- 
disturbed. Nellie saw them leaving the commodious par- 
lor, which had been metamorphosed into a refulgent ball- 
room and, as she came up with them, having followed 
hastily, she broke in upon their low-toned conversation 
with : 

‘‘ Come, come ; this will never do. You heard the Squire 


PROPERTY OF DOE G I LEAR, 


272 

lay clown the rule that there was to be no ‘ sparking ^ 
until after twelve o’clock, and that will be two hours yet; 
besides, Mr. Don, you have your name down for this waltz 
with me. Hear! It has begun already. Now do not try 
to take advantage of our intimate friendship and beg off, 
for I sha’n’t excuse you.” 

“ Nor do I wish to be excused,” replied Don ; it is 
the dream of my life to waltz with you, Nellie. Will you 
return with us, Winfred ? ” he asked, as he proffered 
Nellie his arm to escort her to the dance. 

“Thank you, Don, let me remain here. I do not care 
to dance this number, so it will be safer for me to re- 
main out of sight.” 

As they left her, Winfred walked leisurely on among 
the fragrant flowers; she was so happy, she wished to be 
alone for a little time. Hearing footsteps approaching 
hastily, she turned to face Lieutenant Vasey. It was im- 
possible, on the instant, to keep the feeling of irritation 
at being disturbed from showing in her face. She dis- 
guised the feeling quickly, however, with her peerless 
smile. 

“ I see I am not welcome,” began the young lieuten- 
ant. “Winfred, why have you changed so toward me in 
the last twenty-four hours ? ” 

He had never called her Winfred before. It was com- 
ing now ; she knew it by this and by the expression of 
his excited eyes. In spite of herself, she became agitated 
and was powerless to prevent the outburst that followed. 

“ My darling, you must know how deeply I love you. 
I cannot believe that it is a surprise to you for me to tell 
you this ; you must have read my heart for days. Love 
for you has been in my voice, my eyes, in my every action ; 
it has been on my lips to tell you this a hundred times, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


273 

but I could not bring myself to speak. Now I must leave 
you in a few hours, and I cannot go without your telling 
me you love me, and your promise ’’ 

“ Hush, stop. Lieutenant Vasey ; you must not speak 
to me so.” Winifred had found her voice at last, although 
slie was visibly moved. “ 1 have tried so hard to prevent 

this. Why could you not have understood ” 

But I can^t stop,” he excitedly interrupted her. “ Why 
shouldn't I speak to you so ? Do you love anyone else } 
No, 1 cannot believe that ; I have been too sudden ; I 
have not realized that, after all, our acquaintance has 
been, so far, only of short duration. But tell me you do 
not love anyone else ; let me go away with the hope 
that I can win your love ; tell me I have not offended 
you.” 

“Oh, no ; you have not in any way offended me, Lieu- 
tenant Vasey. I wish it were so T could answer you dif- 
ferently ; but it will be better for us both, and I am sure 
better for you, that we end this now, once for all. Here 
is my hand, that you may be sure that you have not dis- 
pleased me ; but the only answer I can ever give you goes 
with it.” 

It was needless to say the words, with which she had 
intended to reject his suit for, as she extended her palm, 
they both saw at the same instant what Winfred had tried 
to efface, in every imaginable way, that which the acid 
had caused to make plain and for a time indelible, and 
which she had forgotten for the moment, in her agitation. 
There it was, showing in bold relief upon the delicate 
veins, just as Jim had unwittingly stamped it when he was, 
as he claimed, testing the pressure of Don’s powder. 
There was no mistaking the words as Vasey read : 

Property of Don Gilbar. 

18 


274 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


The balance of the stamp, “ Return to No. — Fifth 
Avenue,’’ was not discernible, as it had made only a slight 
impression which looked like a long dark line. 

“What is this?” said Vasey, his face flushing with 
anger. “ Are you jesting with me ? ” 

“ What you see was placed there in jest,” replied Win- 
fred, her face aglow with joy at the thought that she was 
indeed Don’s ; “ but,” she continued, “ it is also never- 
theless true. And now you know why you must never 
talk to me again as you have just done. I have plighted 
my troth to Mr. Gilbar ; he has all my love ; but I have to 
thank you for many a pleasant hour. You must soon for- 
get this, Lieutenant. Do not be reckless. Go and do 
your duty, as I am sure you are capable of doing, and 
some day I hope you will really fall in love with someone 
who will be worthy of your noble heart. Come, it will 
be noticed if we remain here too long ; let us return to 
the others.” 

“ Please accept my most hearty congratulations,” said 
Vasey in a trembling voice. He had been honest in his 
declaration and was much affected. “You will have a 
husband to be proud of. Please excuse me for being so 
rude as to permit you to return alone ; 1 wish to bid you 
good-bye, here.” And, raising her hand to his lips with 
the most respectful courtesy, the poor fellow left her ; 
and it was many months before Winfred saw the young 
officer again. 

It was almost morning before the last of the guests had 
departed. There was no question but that every one had 
enjoyed the evening to the fullest extent. Winfred had 
repeatedly urged Don not to be selfish, promising that 
after this night he should have her undivided attention ; 
so she was able to make the heart of more than one rus- 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


275 


tic swain beat high with pleasurable excitement, under 
the power of her gracious manners and dazzling beauty. 

As the young ladies slept late the following morning, 
Lieutenant Vasey had taken his departure before they 
came down. 

It was suspected almost at once, and was known posi- 
tively in a very few days, that Don and Winfred were 
engaged, a state of affairs that gave unqualified satisfac- 
tion to all who were directly or indirectly interested. 
Don and Winfred, themselves, were hardly more delight- 
ed than the old Squire, whose cup of joy seemed to be 
running over. 


276 


FKOPERTY OF DON G/ES4A\ 


CHAPTER XIX. 

Five happy, prosperous years, each more joyous than 
the previous one, have passed since the day Winfred 
promised Don she would be his wife. They were not 
married until almost two years later, as Don was kept 
closely engaged in business for that time, while his father 
was abroad, recuperating his health which had been much 
run down by years of exciting toil in building up his co- 
lossal fortune. 

But they have been married three years now ; have 
been around the world, basking in the sun of each other’s 
smiles in every clime, until their love has grown to be a 
divine, worshipful devotion, one for the other. Rarely, 
if indeed ever before, has there been a union where both 
were so strikingly handsome ; and the peaceful joy that 
is constantly beaming from their eyes enhances not a little 
their great beauty. 

Don lost the sealskin sack the first Christmas after 
the ball, for Winfred could not at that time, and cannot 
even now, remember anything of her life when she and 
Don first met. They had found the cave ; in fact, Don 
had purchased it, together with some hundred acres which 
he had fitted up into a beautiful park and built a large 
modern hotel upon the ground, enlarging and beauti- 
fying the entrance to the cave, until the place had become 
a very popular resort. Possibly they might never have 


PROPER TY OF DON G I LEAR. 277 

found it, surely not so easily as they did, had it not been 
for Peter Denney. 

Peter had purchased a farm out a way from Pleasant- 
ville with the money Don gave him, and was leading a 
tolerably honest life. He was growing well-to-do in trad- 
ing horses and trafficking in stock of various kinds. It was 
said that you could not depend on his word entirely, 
when he was making a trade ; however, can it be called 
dishonest for one to prevaricate a little when trading 
horses.? Peter could not be sure that this or that horse 
which he wished to exchange was sixteen or eighteen 
years old, so, to be on the safe side, he would claim 
that his nag was six or eight, no doubt because in his 
heart he was absolutely positive the charger was at least 
that old. 

The very first time Don and Winfred started out to 
hunt the cavern, they came across this Peter Denney, and 
after he had easily guided them to the spot where the 
gypsies had camped the Winter before Minna had left them, 
it did not take Don very long to once more find the en- 
trance. After that, they explored the cave often, together, 
and in the company of others ; but its beauty was no less 
a novelty and surprise to Winfred than to the hundreds 
and thousands who visited it afterwards. 

“ Don,” she had said, “ for your sake I wish more than 
I can express that I could call to mind the time you say 
this was our home; but it is no use, I not only cannot 
remember it, but I cannot imagine it true. It fills my 
heart with a warm gladness to have you assure me that 
here I once brought you back to life ; that here I watched 
over you tenderly; and if my soul went out to yours at 
that time, if I loved you then, when 1 must have been 
denied the power of my will to control or direct my heart’s 


278 


PROPERTY OF DON G I LEAR. 


affections, how convincing it is that some bond, U7ie 
passion^ unites us that will, in the light of perfect reason, 
amount some day, if we are not careful, to blind idolatry. 
Sweetheart, I have not the least concern about our love 
for each other ever waning ; what I fear is, we will love 
each other too much.’^ 

And now, after five years, Winnie’s fears have almost 
been realized. 

Dr. Lykin and his vivacious little wife have just run 
in to spend the evening at the Gilbar mansion. It is Don 
and Winfred’s home now, a suite of rooms being reserved 
and always in order for Mr. and Mrs. Gilbar, although 
their occupancy of them does not average more than a 
month or two each year. They travel a great deal ; be- 
sides, Mr. Gilbar is now interested with Squire Lykin 
in a number of extensive cattle-ranches, and his greatest 
pleasure seems to be in seeing his immense herds scattered 
over the plains and witnessing the exciting spectacle of 
the cowboys “ rounding up ” and “ branding,” so that 
they spend much of their time West. 

Mr. Gilbar kept his promise made to Jack, to the letter, 
and Jack has more money than he knows what to do with 
at all times. His mind being thus free and untrammeled, 
he devotes his energies entirely to his profession, and, 
more literally than ever, the name of the great surgeon is 
known throughout the length and breadth of the land. 

Mr. Gilbar received the return he desired from Jack, 
for, only a short time since, the great financier had been 
in Washington, endeavoring to prevent the opening for 
settlement of some large tracts of land upon which he was 
feeding his great herds because, unless he could prevent 
this, he would be forced to seek new pastures at a great 
loss, 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


279 


At first he had difficulty in gaining an audience as 
monopolists, in which class Mr. Gilbar with reason might 
have been placed, were not in much favor with the Admin- 
istration then in power. But as soon as it was noised 
about that he was the father-in-law of the great surgeon, 
Dr. Lykin, his own individuality seemed to be lost sight 
of ; and, instead of being forced to press his way in, he 
was sought after and made much of by every one, from the 
President down. 

He soon had the e^itree into the inner circles with so 
much prestige that he saw that his requests would be 
acceded to with very little argument, they being predis- 
posed in his favor. So the wily old speculator changed 
his tactics and secured the assent of the rulers of the 
nation to allow the lands to remain as they were for an 
indefinite period by simple reasoning, instead of paying a 
good round sum, as he had expected to so gain his 
point. 

Of course he stated that the lands in question were 
only fit for grazing and to permit hundreds of good cit- 
izens to flock there with the hope of even gaining a sus- 
tenance from the crops Mr. Gilbar said they could not 
raise, would be leading the people on to their ruin and 
destruction. This was his argument in substance, and as 
it came from Dr. Lykin’s father-in-law, it was accepted 
without a question. 

So the great herds with L. and G.’^ stamped on their 
left fore-shoulders were permitted to fatten in peace, due 
entirely, as Mr. Gilbar insisted, to the influence of Dr. 
Lykin. 

When Jack and Maud were ushered into the room, they 
found Don caressing his wife as affectionately as if their 
honeymoon had just begun. 


28 o 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ Hollo, Doctor; come in,’’ said Don. Why, Maud, 
where liave you been keeping yourself the last two or 
three days?” he continued, as he greeted her with the 
same brotherly kiss as of old. 

“Oh, I just couldn’t get over,” Maud replied, after 
Winfred had greeted them both cordially. “ Eugenie 
has caught a wretched cold and I had to play nurse. You 
know what the twins are, but you do not know how they 
ride over me ; dear little things 1 Well, they take after 
their father, and he must have been one of the worst 
boys that ever lived,” then, seeing Jack pretend to 
scowl, she added sweetly : “ because he is so good 
now.” 

“ Well, what have you decided, Maud ? ” asked Winfred, 
“ are you going on to Jim and Nellie’s wedding ?” 

“Yes, we have concluded to go. The doctor thinks 
that the twins are old enough to notice and enjoy it ; 
then you know their grandmother has never seen them 
yet, so she is very anxious for us to come. I do not think 
the children will be much trouble, Eugenie has such perfect 
control over them, so we have finally arranged to go. 
That is really why we are over here to-night ; to tell you 
this, and settle about what time we shall start, and whether 
Don or the doctor shall get the tickets and secure our 
apartments.” 

Maud was immensely proud of her husband, and 
delighted in calling and referring to him as “ Doctor.” 
She was one of the most fascinating little mothers one 
could wish to see ; the years had added to her beauty ; 
maternity also had added to her charms. She was the 
same spirited little woman that had so charmed Jack 
when first they met, and, although his mind was much en- 
grossed with his profession, he never was so tired or pre- 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


281 


occupied that he was oblivious of the bright smiles and 
cheering words of his little wife. 

It took some little time to arrange the details for their 
trip West the following week, to attend Nellie Miller and 
Jim’s wedding; and then Maud and Jack said they must 
get home, as it was a shame to keep the nurse up late 
while she was so far from being well. 

‘‘ Don’t be in a hurry,” urged Don, ‘‘you will find they 
are all asleep by this time, anyhow. 

“ By George, that Jim is a captain ! I enjoyed his visit 
on here hugely, and I assure you it was a rare treat to 
hear him tell about his expecting to be married ; of course 
I expected it would turn out just so some day, but hardly 
for several years yet. 

‘“ Don,’ he says to me one evening as we were sitting 
here smoking, ‘you and Jack get along with the girls 
pretty well, don’t you ? ’ 

“ ‘ Oh, yes,’ I said ; ‘ what are you driving at now 't ’ 
for I knew he had some reason for such a question. 

“‘Well, you see,’ Jim continued, ‘Nellie and I are 
going to be married in the Fall, and it worries me a good 
deal thinking whether I can manage her or not. You see 
I have had the Squire on my mind ever since I can 
remember, and now, just about as I am getting him so 
that he lets me have my own way almost entirely, here I 
go and bring about an alliance that I suppose will cause 
me the same contention and struggle until I get her so 
she has a little judgment. I believe Nellie is more 
obstinate than the Squire, but still you know better how 
to take her, for she comes right out and says what she 
thinks, while you never can tell what is on the Squire’s 
mind.’ 

“ Of course I took it all in dead earnest, for you know 


282 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR, 


it is just Jim to a dot. He is not at all conceited, nor 
would he so impress one ; it is only his self-reliant, earnest 
disposition. 

“ ‘ Now, you see,’ he continued, ‘ you and Winnie 
seem to get along just as easily, but it is because you have 
never had the care of a big farm on your hands, Don, and 
never knew what it was to have to manage things.’ 

“ ‘ That is so,’ I agreed, but I could not help smiling, 
as I thought how one day on ’Change for Jim, where he 
might have millions of dollars at stake would worry him 
sick ; at the same time I appreciated the fact that busi- 
ness, so far as he had been forced to cope with it, was just 
as serious a matter to Jim as to any of the rest of us. 

“ ‘ Don’t fret, Jim,’ I told him, ‘ you will get along all 
right, and I believe you will find Nellie very tractable. 
Do not be too hard on her ; remember she is young yet 
and a woman, and we men should remember at all times 
that there is a certain amount of yielding and giving up 
due to the gentler sex.’ 

“‘It isn’t that,’ said Jim. ‘ You do not know Nellie 
as well as I do. About the amount of it is, as I have 
already found out, I just have to give in to her.' 

“ I guess that will be about the way of it. Nellie will 
handle Jim without gloves, and that will be the reason he 
will always love and respect her.” 

“ Really, Doctor, we must be going,” interrupted Maud. 

“I am ready any time,” he replied. 

So, in a few minutes, Don and Winfred were again left 
alone. Don stretched himself out on the lounge, while 
Winfred sat down by him as she said : 

“ Whom do you think I met at Mrs. L ’s tea this 

afternoon ? ” 

“ I don’t know, I am sure. Who was it ? ” 


PROPERTY OE DON 0 1 LEAR. ^83 

“ Major Vasey.” 

“Oh, did you? Well, how is Vasey? I declare, I 
haven’t thought of him for, two or three years ; in fact 
not since he won his captaincy by his bravery about the 
time his general was murdered. Vasey always was a 
brave fellow ; but, gad, didn’t I hate him at one time for 
about three months when I thought he was stealing your 
affections away from me? So it is Major Vasey now, is 
it ? When was that promotion given him ? ” 

“Only about two weeks ago he was promoted to be a 

major of cavalry. You see, he is Mrs. L ’s cousin, 

and at the same time he received his commission he was 

granted a furlough and is now stopping with Mrs. L . 

He talked with me a long time, and I was so pleased to 
see that he could do so without any embarrassment, and 
to know' by his manner that he had gotten over that affair, 
for the poor fellow' did love me, I am sure of that.” 

“ That is not to be wondered at ; I do not see how^ any 
one could help loving you,” Don said, as he gently drew 
her towards him. 

“ He told me all about his last adventure. You see, 
there has been a good deal of trouble from a band of 
‘ road agents,’ led by one Silas Starkey. They have been 
robbing and murdering for a year or more, and it had 
grown to be such a serious matter that a special order 
was issued, troops were called upon to protect tourists, 
and the government offered a reward of ten thousand dol- 
lars for the capture of this Silas Starkey, dead or alive. 

“ About a month ago Major Vasey (captain it was then) 
had some dispatches to carry about two hundred miles 
across the mountains. This duty fell to his lot, because 
a man of cool judgment and undoubted courage was 
needed for such an important service. 


284 


PROPERTY OF DON GILBAR. 


“ He was well mounted and delivered the dispatches in 
good time. As he was returning to his command a few 
days later, about noon, he overtook a gentleman on a 
beautiful horse ; and as the stranger seemed so enter- 
taining and social, Vasey was much delighted with his 
company and rode the whole afternoon with him. 

“ At night they halted and prepared to pass the night 
together. From the stranger’s conversation and manners 
the major says anyone would have taken him to be a 
roving parson, of which he tells me there are several on 
the frontier. He was well versed in border life, although 
that was not unnatural for one of his cloth out there. 

The stranger was the one to suggest that they had 
better stand guard during the night, as they were in a 
section infested by robbers, naming the much-feared band 
that were committing such wholesale depredations; be- 
sides, there was danger from catamounts and other wild 
beasts. Vasey’s companion courteously insisted that he 
would himself first stand watch. So, quite early, Vasey 
wrapped himself in his greatcoat and blanket, for the 
nights are always cool in the mountains, and lay down to 
sleep. He was exhausted from his recent hard riding, 
and had almost passed into a restful sleep, when, for some 
unaccountable reason, he became wide awake, and, as he 
opened his eyes, a bright flash seemed to pass them. 
Being familiar with all kinds of danger, his first thought 
was to remain inactive until he knew more definitely what 
it was that threatened him. 

‘‘ Glancing swiftly about, his senses all alert, he saw his 
unknown companion with his back turned towards Vasey, 
sitting by the campfire, passing his thumb over the keen 
edge of a long knife. It was the fire flashing on the 
bright blade that had shone in Vasey’s eyes. The next 


PROPERTY OF DON C/LBAR. 285 - 

thing, Vasey heard the stranger utter distinctly on the 
night air : 

“ ‘ I guess you will do, my beauty. Little does yon 
sleeping fool think that it is Silas Starkey standing guard 
over him ; but we will soon help him pass in his checks, 
and then there will be one less of Uncle Sam^s boys to 
take a chance at the ten thousand offered for Silas 
Starkey’s body.’ 

“Vasey took in the situation like a flash, and, coolly 
drawing his revolver, he cocked it, and, with his finger 
on the trigger, awaited developments. It was not in 
Vasey ’s nature to take a man’s life without cause, but he 
was not to be taken unawares nor butchered in cold blood. 
So he lay perfectly still, awaiting Starkey’s next move. 

“The minutes and hours dragged slowly by, yet Starkey 
made no further demonstration until about midnight, 
when he suddenly arose from his seat by the fire, and, 
with two spoken words, ‘ Now, then,’ he raised his gleam- 
ing blade and strode swiftly but stealthily toward the (as 
he supposed) sleeping man. 

“ One step more and he would have fallen upon his in- 
tended victim, burying the long, keen knife in Vasey’s 
heart, when the young officer suddenly flung aside his 
covering; a sharp report rang out upon the still night and 
Silas Starkey was no more. 

“ The next day Vasey rode into quarters with the famed 
outlaw dead across his saddle-bow. The reward was 
paid him, and his promotion quickly followed. Wasn’t 
that grand, Don ? ” 

“Indeed it was, darling, and Vasey is just the man 
that could do such a thing. I must hunt him up to- 
morrow.” 

In his hearty words and honest face Winnie can rejoice 


286 


PkOPERTV OP DON GILBaR. 


that all jealousy has passed from Don’s heart, nor did the 
green monster ever enter there again. 

This had been Winnie’s only concern, as Vasey’s name 
had scarcely been mentioned between them since the 
night she had shown the young lieutenant that she was 
the property of another and could never be his. 

***** 

Should you be on Wall Street almost any day about ten 
in the morning and notice a fine, large, distinguished- 
looking gentleman, with dark hair and eyes, step from his 
carriage and walk briskly into his office, nodding to this 
one or that (for there surely will be some one whom he 
knows passing at that hour, and he has a pleasant smile 
and nod for every one), you may be certain that it is Don. 
And if there is anything about his sojourn in the cave you 
do not fully understand, or if you don’t know just where 
to find it, and should like to go there some Summer, just 
ask Don : he will tell you. 


THE END. 


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